Originally slated to be released on the
Beastie Boys Grand Royal imprint in 1996,
Mood Pieces was put on the back burner by Capitol and didn't see the light of day until Ocean Floor released it in 1998. Featuring the combination of
Abstract Rude on vocals and
Fat Jack on production,
Abstract Tribe Unique presents ambient hip-hop at its finest. "Blast Off into Infinity" sets the example with
Abstract Rude's concise, sing-song verses perfectly matching the "spiritual vibe" put forth by
Fat Jack. The group's affinity for sparse audio landscapes is further illustrated on tracks including "Switch the Station," "Rapcha," and "Left Hand Side." Meanwhile, the futuristic sounds of "My Experience" indeed have the potential to travel "out of your body, into your mind, over your walls, beyond your time." Furthermore
Abstract Rude also makes it a point to engage in supreme battle mode with a pair of scathing songs titled "Ooh I'm a Getcha" and "Torn." Dedicating their love for their art on "Something About This Music,"
Abstract Tribe Unique does as good a job as anyone in hip-hop when it comes to stretching into the stylistic realms of soul and reggae. While
Mood Pieces may never receive the recognition that it deserves beyond underground circles, it stands as an important album that not only pre-dates the neo-soul movement but also represents the more sensitive side of Project Blowed. ~ Robert Gabriel