Album Review: The Caesarz – All Hail (2010)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes
There is one unavoidable obstacle every creative person, no matter the medium or level of talent, has faced – the wall. That looming specter that bottles up ideas, stunts growth, silences voices and stops all forward movement. The process in eliminating the blockage varies in each individual, but for some, the wall never appears. Some artists are gifted with enough lanes of expression to display their gift and art so there is never a lull. Such is the case of vocalist/producer/MC Kokayi; the Grammy Award-nominated product of Washington D.C. takes his listeners on an aural journey that is both unexpected and expert. Kokayi reinvents himself as The Caesarz, a punk, rock, and electronica mash-up that is impressive as it is far removed his strong Hip Hop roots. All Hail is a testament to not only Kokayi’s chameleon-like vocals and production, but also his ability to create songs that the fancy music magazines typically salivate over for their lyrical dexterity and deepness.
Kokayi expertly performs all musical and vocal duties (although during live sets he employs a band) on All Hail and the album gets off to a perfect start with “Blow” – a rocking, noisy romp with Kokayi’s impressive production and intense vocals blending effortlessly. The infectious hook also helps the song resonate long after its completion. “Take Me Away” takes a more poppy, electronica-influenced approach and again, Kokayi’s vocals and lyrics create an epic synergy that is undeniable. Aside from the excellent production, the background harmonies are executed perfectly. “Seem Seams” is a thankfully short track that all but kills the momentum of the preceding tracks because of its noisy schizophrenic production. Kokayi’s effects-laden vocals are powerful but they do not leave much of an impression. “Me” quickly corrects the previous error. The production values astound early with panned drums and vocals and lilting blips of sound, creating the most atmospheric song thus far on the EP.
The creative apex is truly shown on the EP’s final two tracks, “Three Steps From Larceny” and “44-FourFour”. With the first of the two, the track sounds uniquely prepared for big soundstages and Kokayi’s vocals again sit right on top of the mix and the earnest, if at times cascading, vocals exude nothing but true passion. The production on “Three Steps From Larceny” never ebbs higher than it needs to, allowing for Kokayi’s vocals to finally be the sole star of the show. “44-FourFour” is without question the EP’s best track and a perfect closer. The rock element is strong here, and the hook’s familiar refrain is worth waiting for. Kokayi effortlessly twists his vocals and harmonies in amazing fashion. If any song on the EP deserves visual accompaniment, it would be this track. One should definitely hope that All Hail is just the beginning for this excellent expansion of sound for Kokayi.
