Koolism : Part 3 – Random Thoughts
Inertia / Invada
Oh, how I love Aussie hiphop. It captures the true sense of hiphop through sampling, rhyming and experimentation, and Koolism are at the forefront of this expressive sound with their latest ‘Part 3: Random Thoughts’. Featuring excellent rhyming by MC Hau alongside production and scratching by Danielsan, both of which are top notch yet elegant in their simplicity.
From the opening track Ground Level Intromental, you know you’re in for a treat. In typical Aussie fashion, humour comes in leaps and bounds, with the sample of “the larger, more aggressive looking of the two did most of the talking” referring to Hau’s big framed Polynesian heritage, which breaks down into some live samples and a phat bassline. The album is personal as well as political, diving into Hau’s childhood with Self Portrait, a tune I can relate to as he mentions watching Monkey, Battle of the Planets, The A-Team and Dukes Of Hazzard, as well as playing Commodore 64 as children. Discussing the state of the world in the title track Random Thoughts, they have a go at people making shitloads of money but acting “street”, certainly a dig at the ‘Ghetto Chic’ of P-diddy, 50-Cent and cohorts.
Also in Aussie hiphop fashion there’s a heap of Aussie and international guests, including Raph & BVA of Mnemonic Ascent on two tunes, On Deck and Stage Presence, which also features Nfmas of 1200 Techniques fame. International flavour comes in the form of Rodney P on Warm and Easy. Their clever diss of the rock mentality that seems to infest Australian live venues spews forth over another phat bassline on The Grand Opening, and the track Koolism Is is one hell of a funky track that will get you shaking your booty wherever you happen to be, either in a club or listening to it through headphones on the bus.
Like the Hilltop Hoods ‘The Calling’, Koolism’s ‘Part 3: Random Thoughts’ manages to capture the spirit of the duo’s energetic live sets, without compromising the production values that can only be gained through a studio album. You can listen to it loud in a club, or at home or through headphones and it just seems to fit the mood perfectly. It manages to be groovy, thoughtful, funky and expressive all in the one neat little package.
Julian Cram