R.A. the Rugged Man (Richard Andrew Thorburn) has been in the game for a long time now. Despite the fact that he was originally signed to a major label in the early 90’s, and received support from big names in the business such as ‘The Notorious B.I.G.’, he was continuously shelved in favor of other artists.
He eventually made his full length debut in 2004 with ‘Die Rugged Man Die’, an album that contained some quality beats and guest slots, but ultimately was lacking in the lyricism department. Legendary Classics Volume 1, released in 2009, was a compilation that contained many collaborations and unreleased tracks spanning his career. Included was the stellar Uncommon Valor: A Vietnam Story from Jedi Mind Tricks’ 2006 album ‘Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell’. The song showed vast growth in R.A’s ability as a lyricist and had me very excited as to what he would do next.
It was only this year that his full length followup to ‘Die Rugged Man Die’ was released, and while it was a very long time coming, it was completely worth the wait.
The album contains the typical shit talking tracks that you would expect from a hip hop album south of the ‘conscious hip-hop’ genre. However, the word play on them is generally clever, even funny at times. These verbal stabs are complimented with heavy hitting beats that drive it all home for the listener.
But that is not all that is on offer here.
The album is well balanced out with numbers such as ‘Learn Truth’ featuring Talib Kweli, and the album’s title track ‘Legends never die’, which show a more mature side to R.A. as a lyricist. ‘Legends never die’ deals with R.A’s father who was a Vietnam veteran forced to raise his kids alone, and suffer the sorrow of losing most of his kids to illness and after effects from the war. R.A reminisces about all his father did for him, helping him grow up into the man he is today, that his old man was his biggest supporter as a rapper when he was getting started. Its all a bit touching without getting whiny or attention seeking.
As an emcee Thorburns delivery is generally complex, multi-syllabic, and fast. He does back up a bit on some tracks: ‘Tom Thum’ a track that shares its name with the Australian beat boxer featured, shows a more restrained Thorburn.
Not a complaint, but many of the tracks on ‘Legends never die’ feature a rapping style that could be compared with a bull out of a gate; barely restrained, released to run wild. But in R.A’s case, still professional and skillfully executed.
‘Tom Thum’ is itself, still a complex multi-syllabic affair. But, the performance -in this reviewers opinion- is more even, showing an impressive symbiosis with the beats.
‘Shoot me in the head’ slows down completely from this entire style of delivery, presenting a plodding flow and a more conversational tone.
The list of guests on this outing are for the most part very high class. Underground legends Tech N9ne & Krizz Kaliko drop in for ‘Holla-Loo-Yuh’. Tech contributes a guest verse, and Krizz features on the chorus. The song stylistically sounds like it could have originally been on a Tech N9ne album. From the style of beat production, to the chorus, it’s all very Tech in execution.
All said, it does come together very well here and Krizz and Tech never manage to outshine their host. R.A. holds his own.
Masta Ace lends his voice to the second verse ‘The Dangerous Three’. The production here show’s effective contrast between more laid back piano and harsher keyboard lines towards the later verse transition. Brother Ali’s somewhat songful rap flow fits in well with the other rapper elements here.
‘Media midgets’ its a typical enough song lamenting oppression by corporate media labels towards young aspiring, and creatively talented artists. Only a few ever make it, despite their abilities, and often have to change their creative vision, style, and image in order to be signed or produced.
Its a reality that R.A. can definitely relate to given his history with the recording business despite his affiliation with big names. It may very well explain why R.A.’s second album was so late in coming. But its a fact that is easy to forgive when the end result speaks for itself as a hip hop essential amongst this years music releases. This album has stayed in my playlist constantly since I first heard it. I highly recommend it.
Fermata over Whole Rest 