From up and coming San Francisco based Hip-Hop artist Germane comes his first full-length recording, "American Dreaming...The Pledge." Originally hailing from Germany, the appropriately named Germane delivers a group of solid, well-organized, and cohesive Hip-Hop tracks that will make you feel good. The beats are funky, the samples are tasteful, and most importantly, the lyrics break away from much of the Rap mold and stand alone with a unique sense of hope and positivity.
The lyrics of the album concentrate primarily on Germane's move from Germany to America, where he knew no one and was driven only by his dream of exposing his music to willing enthusiasts. The idea of one's artistic dreams coming true underlies the whole album, from the title to the tracks. Each track conveys a sense of this ideal with clarity and wit (made more impressive by the fact that English is not his first language).
"Ride With Me" opens the album on a tense note that invites the listener to "Fly with me." "Bayvaria" combines German verses with English choruses with surprisingly strong effect. "Bring it Back" deals with the feelings Germane had when Hip-Hop finally made its way to Europe and the sense of connection he felt with the art form. "MPL" is perhaps the album's saddest track. It is a soulful lament of the ever-worsening environmental conditions of the planet.
"Summer In The City" and "You Know Who" are the album's strongest tracks. "Summer in the City" celebrates the breezy San Francisco summers with its laid back choruses and jazzy tones. The laid back tone of "Summer" segues perfectly into "You Know Who," a heavy funk track with a driving bassline, soulful vocals, and some of the best rhymes on the album. "Even More" is another excellent track about overcoming personal difficulties. "In The Zone" is a slower track about leaving home, and a fine way to end the album.
"The Pledge" is a solid record because of its hopeful rhymes and downright funky style. Like with any new artist however, there is room for Germane to step up his game and refine his style on the next record, and I suspect he'll do just that. Check out one of the Bay Area's most promising new rappers.
www.germanemusic.comwww.myspace.com/germanemusic
Kris Lorenz
American Dreaming...The Pledge
From up and coming San Francisco based Hip-Hop artist Germane comes his first full-length recording, "American Dreaming...The Pledge." Originally hailing from Germany, the appropriately named Germane delivers a group of solid, well-organized, and cohesive Hip-Hop tracks that will make you feel good. The beats are funky, the samples are tasteful, and most importantly, the lyrics break away from much of the Rap mold and stand alone with a unique sense of hope and positivity.
The lyrics of the album concentrate primarily on Germane's move from Germany to America, where he knew no one and was driven only by his dream of exposing his music to willing enthusiasts. The idea of one's artistic dreams coming true underlies the whole album, from the title to the tracks. Each track conveys a sense of this ideal with clarity and wit (made more impressive by the fact that English is not his first language).
"Ride With Me" opens the album on a tense note that invites the listener to "Fly with me." "Bayvaria" combines German verses with English choruses with surprisingly strong effect. "Bring it Back" deals with the feelings Germane had when Hip-Hop finally made its way to Europe and the sense of connection he felt with the art form. "MPL" is perhaps the album's saddest track. It is a soulful lament of the ever-worsening environmental conditions of the planet.
"Summer In The City" and "You Know Who" are the album's strongest tracks. "Summer in the City" celebrates the breezy San Francisco summers with its laid back choruses and jazzy tones. The laid back tone of "Summer" segues perfectly into "You Know Who," a heavy funk track with a driving bassline, soulful vocals, and some of the best rhymes on the album. "Even More" is another excellent track about overcoming personal difficulties. "In The Zone" is a slower track about leaving home, and a fine way to end the album.
"The Pledge" is a solid record because of its hopeful rhymes and downright funky style. Like with any new artist however, there is room for Germane to step up his game and refine his style on the next record, and I suspect he'll do just that. Check out one of the Bay Area's most promising new rappers.
www.germanemusic.comwww.myspace.com/germanemusic
