Published on Feb 18, 2004
The fans that have been with the productive S&M since their
early days, and have seen the Canadian hip-hop group swell from a
duo to a nearly invincible quartet get another surprise. A new year
brings, wait for it, yet another album! Unlike The Fall, or other
groups prolific-to-the-point-of-exhaustion, Swollen Members keeps
the quality control meter pointed toward HIGH. Why, they re-drafted
original member Moka Only, and gained the production and turntable
skills of Rob The Viking. And since forming their Battle Axe record
label (“our own label, never get dropped”) have released three
albums, with added instrumental editions of each.
But
Heavy is, without doubt, a defining work. An added DVD with
each of their videos and a bio given by the members at various
stages of a tour pads the package perfectly as they prepare for the
superstardom they should already have.
Heavy is perfect. “Paranoia” has Moka Only’s unforgettable
chorus, Madchild advises you to consider his scrotum a large
pacifier on “Watch This,” “Therapy” requires at least
three-listens-per-day as guest DJ Revolution strings one-sided
arguments together, and Son Doobie steps in ready and sweaty for
the hidden track. All the while they keep the mood light with
between-song crank calls, and a string section straight from
grandma’s favorite radio station that somehow fits “Bottom Line”
impeccably.
This is far from the slanted and enchanted emo-rap of
utilitarian dorks like Sole, Sage Francis, or the majority of the
Anticon playhouse. Hip-hop groups passionate and confused enough to
headbang and stagedive in the middle of their shows are not to be
taken lightly. Especially when they’re balancing tracks this
dangerous.
Heavy should establish Swollen Members as leaders of the now
school, free from the manufactured drama and cheese of their peers
— they’re just warped enough not to require any of it. And being
worthy of membership in the legendary Rock Steady Crew shows that
the right people are actually listening.