Clear Soul Forces are not ones to procrastinate. For a good decade, the Detroit quartet have offered direct rap, without any fuss. With eleven tracks, no intro, no outro, no guests, Still remains in keeping with their established direction. It hits the ground running with “Blaow” and the microphones sound barely checked. the rappers are released and they come out of the blocks at full speed, supported by the scratches of Brussels DJ Odilon.
From this point on, Still doesn’t stop to catch its breath. It gives way to quick, technical rap where, with the exception of “Pump Pump,” the refrains fall away before the couplets finish. The beats essentially serve as a playground for L.A.Z., E-Fav, J-Roc and Ilajide – the latter undertaking production responsibilities for most of the record. “Kick It,” with its implicit nod to a famous piece by A Tribe Called Quest, illustrates this well, as does “They Shootin’,” chosen as the album’s single.
The set is effective, but becomes a little flawed through its uniformity. For that reason, a pleasant surprise lies in wait at the end of the album with “Don’t Stop,” which is introduced by an unexpected jazz sample.
Clear Soul Forces – Still (Fat Beats)
