Album Review: Fly Gypsy – Change For A Dollar (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

Support! Fly Gypsy – Change For A Dollar

It’s not often that an artist surprises me these days. That’s not an arrogant statement but merely the truth and one I know most of us face. The internet has millions upon millions of songs at our fingertips. And when you write about music, chances are you’re going to hear most of those millions upon millions of songs. As such, it’s unbelievably refreshing and even inspiring when an act is able to hold your attention for more than a few minutes. Fly Gypsy – a once-transcontinental duo – is one of those acts.

Russian-born producer-songwriter Alexei Jendayi and Jamaican-born MC Kowboy Kom first caught my attention with The Vodka & Rum Mixtape. Not only was its title clever – it’s an obvious ode to their homelands – but the concept was intriguing. They paired up Kom’s rhymes with those from other, more famous rappers such as Kanye West and Wyclef Jean. And what seemed tacky at first actually ended up working very well and seamlessly. The already-heard verses took on new life next to Kom, whose voice is instantly captivating.

There was, though, a very poppy/mainstream-reaching element that was evident in the duo’s music. And that will absolutely turn some listeners away. Those of you who aren’t looking for something with a more upbeat vibe should look elsewhere. That’s not to say Fly Gypsy is outright “hip-pop” because both the music and lyrics are very much in tune with hip-hop’s roots. It’s more so the fact that Kom and Jendayi make extremely accessible songs, with almost every cut on the Change For A Dollar being single-worthy. In particular, there is the EP’s actual lead-single “You”, which is an undeniably fun cut made for sunny days with a slight breeze.

One of Fly Gypsy’s most endearing qualities is that everything with a slight superficial tone is delivered tongue-in-cheek. On “Get That Money”, Kom spits your prototypical money-hungry bars. But he’s not really promoting materialism – he’s pointing out its downsides. And he does so in a way that’s both clever and invigorating. He never sounds bitter or out-of-touch. He’s simply a wise observer who knows the faults of man and addresses them well. This also occurs on the sexed-up club track “Give It 2 Me”, which offers a surprise ending.

Hip-hop heads looking for something positive and uplifting that refrains from being corny should look no further than Fly Gypsy. While Kom’s rapping style might not be for everyone, you will certainly be listening to what he spits. The way he flows over Jendayi’s natural, organic production is something even the most serious head needs to hear. Put the cynical and/or superficial raps on pause and give Change For A Dollar a spin.

This entry was posted on Friday, December 18th, 2009 at 7:10 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.