Album Review: Finale – A Pipe Dream & A Promise (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

After a relentless stream of solid releases, the Detroit hip-hop scene was poised for a flop. There have been far too many good to great albums dropped in the past two years for our own good. From 14KT to Invincible to Asylum 7, the Motor City has not let up. So it would only seem fair, in a sense, that Finale’s A Pipe Dream and A Promise would be a let down. Right? Wrong. This fiery emcee has given underground hip-hop heads another reason to embrace the gritty Detroit sound even more with this consistent, hard-hitting, and above all fantastic debut.

The album’s undeniable highlights include opener “Arrival & Departure”, “Motor Music”, and “The Waiting Game”. All three are guided by fantastic and creative production from V-Tech and Apollo Brown, Black Milk, and Khrysis, respectively. Each has a distinctive feel, too, while still fitting into the grand scheme of the record. And though they all shine in their own light, Black Milk steals the show with “Motor Music” and its heart-pounding bass that thuds beneath video game loops. But it isn’t strong enough to hold that award for long. Invincible and Finale’s rhymes will likely melt your brain on “The Waiting Game”. If not, you’re not listening hard enough. Then there is the moving J Dilla tribute called “Paid Homage”, which features a revamped version “Fall in Love” by Flying Lotus. Oh, and the Dilla-produced “Heat” also just happens to be what the hip-hop doctor ordered.

The hits on here aren’t limited to those five tracks, but one could go on for far too long summarizing just how solid this album is. And the only joints that threaten A Pipe Dream and A Promise’s killer pace are “Jumper Cables” and “Style”. Both might fit in on an album with more mediocre strides. But on here, they seem out of place with their weak hooks and done-to-death sentiments. Braggadocio is a welcome topic when handled well, though it can easily become either cheesy or tiresome. And that’s just what happens on these tracks, even if the production and verses are solid.

The most satisfying element of A Pipe Dream and A Promise is its balanced nature. It captures the vibe of Detroit while not pigeonholing itself to a specific feel. It features bangers, introspective epics, and shit-talking anthems, all lined up next to one another. And, above all, it’s a stellar debut from an emcee with plenty to say. Do not let this one fly under your radar.

This entry was posted on Saturday, April 4th, 2009 at 3:03 pm and is filed under Album Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.