REVIEW: Sha Stimuli, My Soul to Keep
Sha Stimuli
My Soul to Keep
(ChamberMusik/E1)
Beats: L
Lyrics: XL
Originality: L
Things haven’t been easy for Sha Stimuli. Though he signed to Virgin Records in 2005, the Brooklyn MC’s freshman album, Thee Emotion Picture, never saw the light of day. Now, after becoming a free agent in 2008, he finally presents a proper debut with My Soul to Keep.
After a themed intro, the jazzy horns of “Hang On” set the tone as Stimuli recounts his life’s ups and downs. The hood dedication “Move Back,” produced by Just Blaze, is another standout, as Sha raps, “Got the whole hood behind me, so it looks like I rep a set/If I make it, they make it, so I never rest,” before giving way to a spirited verse from Freeway. Much of the album revolves around Sha’s personal demons: the role-playing “I Wish I Was You” displays his fear of commitment, and “Bucket List” is a lyrical laundry list of things the rapper hopes to accomplish before dying.
Sha covers much ground topically, but musically the album isn’t as diverse. Tracks like the J. Cardim–produced “Good Day,” “What’s Wrong With That? (Wake Up the World)” and “Blasphemy” are good but get lost sonically in the disc’s dense track list. Still, through it all, Sha Stimuli’s soulful debut is a keeper. —Konate Primus
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November 3rd, 2009
at 11:19 am
G-Clef da Mad Komposa says:
What album did you listen to? LOL. My Soul to Keep is amazing and I sense something odd going on with XXL and Stimuli. Like A-Rod said the other night… “it’s just a little obvious..”
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 1:14 pm
P. The Rebel says:
An L for originality!?!? You must be kidding, right? Theme wise it’s probably the most original hip hop album of all time. At least, you recognized that Sha is lyrically superior to basically any emcee out right now.
My Soul to Keep is also a musical masterpiece with incredible arrangments and an amzing mix of live instrumentation and powerful electronic drums.
But my main problem with your review is that you gave the album an L while you don’t say much negative thing about it. I think you meant XL… anyway to me it deserves XXL.
P.
Reply
November 3rd, 2009
at 9:26 pm
Will DaBoss says:
This album hands down is a XL.
How much original can it be, have you ever heard another artists have a song about a Smelly Cat, a Bucket List, and Blasphemy all on one CD.
Lyrics are always on point.
I accept your apology in advance being that I know you now realize after listening in your Ipod or Honda that you drive that a mistake was made.
Reply
November 4th, 2009
at 5:24 pm
hate says:
copped this yesterday after i read a few comments claimin it was much better than it’s L rating.
it definitely deserves an XL.
shit is WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY better than BP3 or any other piece of shit you gave a XL to.
Reply
November 5th, 2009
at 10:34 pm
Thomas says:
Totally different album than BP3….why everyone wanna compare every album to Jay’s? SMH at that.
This album is dope from start to finish. This dude talks about the working man, asking GOD questions, gives us insight into his life on “My Soul,” and talks to all of the followers on “Follow the Leader.” Only an “L?” Nah…not feeling that.
I agree with the beats being an “L” cause they aren’t anything special, but the tracks do provide the lyrics (most important to me) the shine they deserve. Having a hilarious, but dead serious song like “The Smelly Cat Song” on the album should give him a “XXL” for Originality alone.
Dope ish….order it online if you want the CD cause its not in stores.
Reply
November 11th, 2009
at 11:02 pm
Casso says:
If XXL writers aren’t even going to pretend to put any effort into writing reviews, what’s the point in publishing them?
Seriously, whether the writer liked the album or not doesn’t matter. At least give us a thoughtful take on it. This shit reads like it was written 10 minutes before deadline after one cursory listen to the record.
Reply