Tracklist:
01. News Flash (Intro)
02. Krocadil
03. Bacon N Eggs (Skit)
04. MDK (Feat. Trizz)
05. Disappeared
06. Fucked Up (Skit)
07. Eating You (Feat. Bernz, Wreckonize)
08. Tha Package (Feat. Yelawolf)
09. Something About Susan (Feat. COS, Irv Da Phantom)
10. The River (Skit)
11. Can I Have A Napkin
12. Mask And Knife (Feat. G Macc, Bleezo)
13. Meat Cleaver
14. I Give Up (Feat. COS)
15. Instruments (Skit)
16. Stabbed (Feat. Tech N9ne, Hopsin)
17. Body On The Floor
18. Have You Checked The Children (Skit)
19. Sweeny Todd
20. Dead Bitch
Wit, clever lines and deliciously sinister touches make "Mannibalector" far more accessible than one might have thought possible for a Horrorcore album.
Horrorcore has only glanced the mainstream, with artists like Eminem, DMX, and even the Notorious B.I.G. exploring the genre on occasion. Brotha Lynch Hung, impressively, has managed to make a career of it, despite the genre’s inherent inaccessibility. On his third entry in his Strange Music trilogy, Brotha Lynch Hung illustrates why he’s managed to do just that.
Make no mistake, BLH’s emceeing arsenal is still quite impressive. Whether it’s the rapid-fire flows over the frenetic and disturbing strings of “Krocadil” or steady delivery over extremely minimalist production on “MDK,” Lynch is unquestionably adept at his craft. Guests are carefully chosen, ranging from Yelawolf’s oustanding performance on “Tha Package” and well-placed assists from Hopsin and Tech N9ne on “Stabbed.” One of the most brilliant cuts on the record is “Something About Susan.” Between the slinky keys and R&B stylings, it masquerades as a something far less sinister than what it actually is. It’s aided by a chorus that is infinitely more disturbing given the context of the song’s subject matter: “I swear I love her I never let her out of my sight / There’s no more livin’ if I ever let her out of my life / ‘Cause when she’s not around it’s just not right / You were my heart, I gave you my all...the one that I love.” Conversely, Lynch is at his least compelling when he takes a moment to break character, which occurs on “I Give Up.” The track isn’t a bad one, per se; but in the context of the album, it’s glaringly out of place. An argument could be made that it fits into larger themes contained within the project, but it’s too misplaced.
The production on Mannibalector never fails to surprise. Whether it’s deliciously ominous touches like sampled screams in the background of “Disappeared,” or the minimalistic keys and strings on “Eating You” that explode into Heavy Metal, there’s plenty for the listener’s ears to feast upon. This is true throughout, as it’s not until the very end that the album decides to unleash its heaviest production, courtesy of “Sweeny Todd.” The attention to detail is present in other aspects of the album, particularly in the skits, which are well-acted and have fantastic sound effects.
Ultimately, Horrorcore is a polarizing genre. Listeners have to decide for themselves whether it’s for them or not. Regardless, Brotha Lynch Hung’s talents transcend the genre. He’s an outstanding lyricist and technician, and effortlessly weaves in and out of various narratives and themes. What really separates him from other Horrocore artists, however, is the character he’s created. If BLH is The Silence of the Lambs’ Hannibal Lector, after whom the album is obviously named, then many other Horrorcore artists are villains from more crude and pointless horror flicks like The Human Centipede. While other villains merely hack and slash, making for violence that’s rarely more than mean, Brotha Lynch Hung has crafted a character who’s not only horrifying and charming, but horrifying because he’s charming. Sinister wit and clever lines make Mannibalector far more accessible than one might have thought possible for a Horrorcore album. And while accessibility isn’t what Brotha Lynch Hung is going for, it does make a statement about the breadth of his talent.
Brotha Lynch Hung Shares Admiration For Yelawolf, Hopsin And Hopes To Meet Eminem
Exclusive: In addition to his experience meeting Tupac, Brotha Lynch Hung speaks on the importance of lyricism and not being pigeonholed as "Horror-core."
Indicative of his trilogy album concluding this week, Brotha Lynch Hung has stories to tell. The Sacramento, California veteran frequently kicks rhymes that are Tales From The Hood-meets-Tales From The Crypt, as the Horror-core pioneer admits on MannibalLector, "I'm still rippin' up guts, but I'm still on this Crip shit." But even looking back at his 22-year career, the recollections and accounts of the underground legend are just as vivid, just as engaging.
On February 4, HipHopDX spoke to one of Strange Music's most successful artists about his just-released effort. A commercial and personal triumph, Lynch went from retail obscurity in the early 2000s, back to his place as a fierce lyricist with exponentially more album-buying consumers than a litany of rappers who maintain bigger media profiles. Both as an author and auteur, the 40-something has challenged the convention that Rap is a young man's sport—with a mic, sickle and shovel.
In this latest discussion, the Gangsta Rap vet recalls Tupac's generosity and influence, his intrigue with Hopsin and Yelawolf, and Strange's quietly-kept gangsta harmony.
HipHopDX: Going off of the title, MannibalLector, obviously there is the cannibalism theme from the previous two albums in the trilogy. But going off of the single, "Krocodil," and other verses and choruses, it seems to be an emcee album too—"mandible" lector [Editor's Note: Brotha Lynch Hung's government name is Kevin Mann, also reflected in the title]. To what extent would you say this is the most Hip Hop-inspired album of the three?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Oh, yeah. Definitely! I had to finish up a storyline, but I did want to show versatility and make this album seem a lil' more lyrical, a lil' more Hip Hop. I started rappin' in the '80s, around the times of Big Daddy Kane and Rakim and those type of rappers. So I really am a Hip Hop artist who, over the years, I guess they put me in this other genre. I really wanted to bring that back out with this MannibalLector album.
DX: "On MDK," you rapped over a heartbeat. I remember Ice-T once had a full-on acapella on one of his later albums. It's cool to hear, especially for the Internet generation, an emcee just go in over a sparse beat. And you're precise, kinda chopping with it. Tell me about that track, especially since it's so stylized...
Brotha Lynch Hung: The original track, the music that I made back here in Sacramento—by the time that I got to K.C., we just went ahead and let Seven touch it up. The reason I made it is because every rapper has so much music in their songs now though. You kinda don't pay attention to the lyrics anymore. I wanted to do somethin' and prove that I could make a song with not so much music, and [have] people enjoy the raps.
DX: I think it suceeds. It's one of my favorite songs on the album. It's nice to hear rapping that isn't so pedestrian too. These aren't verses that the listener feels as though they could also write, which is rare right now.
Brotha Lynch Hung: That's what I'm tryin' to do, man. I try to do it all the time—really stay different. Right now we're kinda dilluted with the whole [scene]. I understand too, 'cause the kids, they gotta hear certain types of music. But I tried to be as different as I could on this one.
Brotha Lynch Hung Discusses Crips & Bloods' Harmony At Strange Music
DX: It's not a musical question, but one of the things I wanted to ask you was I remember in the '90s how significant it was when Death Row had Crips and Bloods on the same label, during some timultuous years in the streets. Strange has that too. On this album, you say "I'm still rippin' up guts, but I'm still on this Crip shit," do you think it sends a positive message to the streets when Strange has a lot of different neighborhoods represented and working together on songs and tours?
Brotha Lynch Hung: Yeah, it really does. A lot of people I don't know: I have two Blood brothers; my blood brothers are Bloods. I grew up with both gangs my whole life. That made it easy, and the fact that I've known Tech N9ne for 20 years. That makes it easy too. But it does send a good music though, I hope.
DX: I know that plays itself on tour. It's cool when you, Kutt Calhoun or Big Scoob are sharing a stage.
Brotha Lynch Hung: Them are my boys though.
DX: On this album, you have a lot of criticism about how rappers really need to step their bars up. On this third album it's interesting that you featured Yelawolf and Hopsin. Yela, when he was coming on the scene years ago, his videos reminded me a lot of your videos. He had "Pop The Trunk," which also had incredibly dope lyricism. Hopsin, in his own way, is doing the same thing. From a big brother's perspective, how did you find spots to collaborate with guys that pay hommage to what you helped pioneer?
Brotha Lynch Hung: That exactly—their videos. I've been watching Hopsin videos for the last year. He's very creative is what caught me. And "Pop The Trunk," who hasn't seen the video? I wanted to mess with those two artists. I started payin' attention to Yelawolf when "Pop The Trunk" came out; I found everything I could on YouTube. I was totally impressed. The same with Hopsin. The ultimate goal is Eminem, but those two cats [too]. Man, I'm so happy I got 'em.
DX: Tech has publicly spoken to us about Em being a fan. It's funny, because Eminem is such a big Hip Hop fan. In your 22 years, have you ever heard anything about inspiring him?
Brotha Lynch Hung: People say it, but that's not good enough for me. I ain't sayin' he gotta run up on me and say it or anything, but I would like to hear that he did. I've ran into his peers—I've ran into Royce Da 5'9, and he loves my music and knew about me. Snoop [Dogg] has said that Eminem was inspired by me. But when I meet him one day and maybe hear it, that's when I'll believe it.
Kevin Danell Mann aka Brotha Lynch Hung s-a născut în Sacramento, California în data de 10 ianuarie 1971 (41 de ani) și activează din anul 1986. Este atât MC cât și producători, iar primul său album a fost lansat în 1995 (Season of da Siccness). De la lansarea primului material, EP-ul 24 Deep și până azi, Brotha Lynch Hung a vândut independent 1,4 milioane de albume. Momentan este un membru al label-ului Strange Music, iar pe parcursul carierei a colaborat sau a fost în anturajul artiștilor X-Raided, C-Bo, MC Eiht, Snoop Dogg, Yukmouth, Tech N9ne, Spice 1, Loki, Master P, Mr. Serv-On sau Mac Dre.
Exclusive: In addition to his experience meeting Tupac, Brotha Lynch Hung speaks on the importance of lyricism and not being pigeonholed as "Horror-core."
