In the year 2010 hip-hop music is lacking a lot of substance. Instead of an 18 year old Nas writing "Illmatic", we have 18 year olds writing Crank That Superman. I am not going to say the cliché hip-hop is dead because it’s not. Groups like Everliven Sound and their new album, “Freedom 2” are living proof that the culture is alive and thriving.

Everliven Sound is a group composed of two brothers named Cymarshall Law and Skit Slam who are also solo artist. The brothers are New Jersey natives by way of Luton, England. The album is called, “Freedom 2” and it is a follow up from their 2008 album called, “Freedom”. The album is a compilation of continents with Cy Marshall residing in New Jersey, Skit Slam in Luton (a half hour from London) and the producers of the album, The Beatnikz’s living in Sweden.  The Beatnikz’s are a production duo of two guys from Sweden and they also fully produced the group’s first album.

With technology today it is amazing that a quality album like this was done in different countries. Half of the album Cy and Skit recorded together in New Jersey and in London. The other half of the album was done through emails with the Beatnikz sending the beats and Cy and Skit sending each other verses through email.  The album itself is coming out through the independent/digital label, Hipnott Records. Just from this introductory paragraph you can tell everyone else has a deal but Everliven Sound is doing it without one (word to Drake).

                This is a true hip-hop album with real beats lyrics, and concepts. Hip-Hop today seems to only be about money and drugs and Everliven Sound talk about personal usage and not distributing large quantities. Hip-Hop is meant to be fun, competitive, informative and real and that ‘s exactly what this album is. A real emcee should be versatile and should be able to speak confidence, brag, drop knowledge and tell stories all at the same time. Everliven Sound drops a lot of gems on this album when they speak on everything from smoking  dro to astrology to government oppression and evils in the world.

                Each song is different but still carries a continual theme. We have boom bap beats on songs like, “Get Up Stand Up” and, “Come Correct”. Then you have songs with a more modern theme on, "Can You Relate.” If you truly like great music and look for dope material as a fan of this culture it is hard to not like this album. The brothers Cy and Skit really show off their influence from the old school while putting a new twist to it. I am not going to label them anything and put them in a box. I will say this actually sounds like a complete album and not like  albums nowadays where its really a compilation of rappers and producers. This album might not be for Soulja Boy or Gucci Mane fans but I still encourage all fans of hip-hop to check it out.

This album has me excited for Cymarshall Law’s solo album called, “Freedom Express Line” that will be distributued by Sony and drops August 31. Hip-Hop is only dead if you watch T.V and listen to the radio. The real shit is still around you just gotta find it so go to Itunes, Amazon or  http://hipnottrecords.com/ and cop this album now!