General Steele Presents... - Amerikkka

During the eight years of the George W. Bush Administration, the world witnessed 9/11, bio-terrorist anthrax attacks, a Bin Laden manhunt, a crumbling American economy, and the U.S. invasion into more than one country. Meanwhile, Hip Hop witnessed quite a few artists, media figures, etc., using the culture to speak out against injustices and their political angst. And then along came the hope. Aside from dead prez, who openly voiced their skepticism of the Presidential hopeful, it seemed that most of Hip Hop was embracing Barack Obama with open arms. Fast forward a year, and some of the hope has worn away. And in case anyone has forgotten that there is still a lot of work to be done before we can get back to even a marginally satisfactory relationship between citizens and the government, General Steele of Smif N Wessun has released an LP that says all that needs to be said. Enter Amerikkka’s Nightmare part 2: Children of War, the latest release in Duck Down Records’ 15th anniversary season.

Steele wastes no time getting down to business, with the introductory track doubling as the title track. It’s filled with political commentary and questioning of authority, all over a gritty, high-energy beat. Also worth noting is that he brings the LP back around full-circle by including an approximately seven minute remix of “Amerikkka’s Nightmare” at the end that boasts a lineup of some underground heavyweights, including Ruste Juxx, Torae, Planet Asia, Shabaam Sahdeeq, St. Laz, Lin Que, and more. Although the posse cut really adds no more to the original than length and extra verses, some pro-Palestinian rhetoric, a verse entirely in Spanish, and an interesting female dynamic from veteran X-Clan affiliate Lin Que manage to give a slightly different perspective.

Singer Nicole Michelle shows up on two songs, namely “Pledge Allegiance,” where the General remixes the standard “Pledge of Allegiance” to suit his own tastes (and also manages to give “My Country Tis of Thee” a brief makeover in a verse as well), and on “We On the Move Now.” The latter is an undeniably dark, depressing track, and her vocals shine over the sinister musical backdrop. She sings, “this is the way I live my life, I’m on the move, everyday is a new struggle that we must fight, but I’m pushin through,” as Steele maintains the somber feel of the track with bars such as “live life day-to-night like I won’t make it to morn’, can’t sleep till it’s over, at my wake you can mourn, matter fact shed not one tear when I’m gone.”

Other notable guest appearances come in the form of “Cry Freedom”, featuring dead prez, and “I Had a Vision,” featuring Louis Skaggs (who also appears on the “Amerikkka’s Nightmare” remix), New Jersey emcee Hasan Salaam, Akir, and Hicoup. “Cry Freedom” boasts a dramatic beat that rock the Ennio Morricone sample many will recognize from Jay-Z’s Blueprint 2, and shares the name of the movie starring Denzel Washington that focuses on Steve Biko and South African apartheid. In true dp’z fashion, nothing is held back, as evidenced by rhymes like “the queens of our nation are strip club dancers, and the food and drug administration givin’ us cancer, too much radiation, cell phone preoccupation, no education, schools is just indoctrination.”

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Low points on the album come when General Steele reaches a bit too far for creativity. A few tracks, including “Child of War” and “Home of the Brave (Jimmy’s Song)” are more Heavy Metal than they are Rap, and although the energy is high and they could prove to be a solid basis for a live performance, at times the concept just feels a bit confusing.

With almost all instrumentals featuring snare-heavy march-type percussion lines and raps that resemble an ongoing argument with a FOX news ticker, Amerikkka’s Nightmare part 2: Children of War could serve, from start to finish, as the soundtrack for a war movie. General Steele’s latest will appeal to those who are fiending for the next dead prez or Immortal Technique release, however for those who aren’t ready for the next revolution or prefer their music a little more light-hearted, the album’s content will likely feel overbearing.

Purchase Amerikkka’s Nightmare 2: Children of War by General Steele