Main Flow is probably best known as a member of Cincinnati trio Mood along with Hi-Tek and Dante. In 1997 they released their one and only album “Doom” on TVT/Blunt Records. It may not have been heard by enough people, but those who heard it know the truth. Since that time each have gone their separate ways, with Hi-Tek finding the most success. Main Flow is looking to change all that with “Hip Hopulation.”
The first thing that will jump out about this album is the list of guests; Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Planet Asia, Defari, Killah Priest, Hi-Tek, 7L & Esoteric, Mikah 9. An impressive list to say the least. The first things that will jump out at you when you listen to this album is the beats though, cause there are some mighty fine ones. Some of the best come from the relatively unknown Da Riffs who laces “The Wire,” a song packed with some killer samples and some KILLER drums in the chorus. Damn. “Such A Fool” is on a completely different vibe, up-beat and breezy. By the time you hear “Never Imagined” with Killah Priest & Masta Fuol, it is clear this cat has a lot of potential.
Also coming through with some fire is Reason, he backed “Dice Role” and “Loving The Game,” a great track with Flow trading rhymes with Planet Asia. The crowning achievement here is the incredible collabo with Talib “Hip Hop Worth Dying For.” To no surprise the vastly slept on J. Rawls chips in two bangers. The first is “Delivery Tactics,” which is where Main Flow sounds his best bouncing over J’s procession. The other is a vintage beat from him that could fit any Lone Catalysts album; “Seen It All.”
I’m sure you’ve noticed by this point I’m doing a lot of talk about the production, but truthfully that is what stands out here. Main Flow is a good emcee but he doesn’t have the presence on the mic to command your attention. I guess the bottom line is, the album is still a good listen, so it doesn’t really matter.
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6.5/10
