A few years back, the trend seemed to be leaning towards a “grown man” style in Rap. It was as if throwing on a collared shirt was somehow indicative of growth or maturity. Granted, this may have been due to Jay-Z’s proclamation that it was time to take off the throwbacks but few actually continued with the trend once the novelty died down. Instead, the culture has been flooded with youth, reenergized with a new twist and tighter pants than the generation before it. Still, one man who is actually living up to that “grown man” approach without the need of a wardrobe change is The Grouch, an emcee out of Oakland, California, for those unfamiliar with his past.
As a member of a various groups, including The Living Legends, Grouch has made a name for himself carving out consistent independent projects since the mid ’90s. Now, he seems reinvigorated by his new home in Hawaii and more inspired by fatherhood than anything else. With Three Eyes Off The Time, Grouch adds another solid effort to his extensive catalog.
“Daddy’s Home” speaks to how fatherhood influenced this album. He insists “If I ever steer you wrong, let this be an apology / I open my home, you can see all of me.” That he does, specifically on the album’s greatest gem, “Allieverwantedwas,” where his daughter, Rio, makes a cameo as she performs her rendition of Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” Endearing father-daughter moments give this album a rare perspective and one that is refreshing. “Whatever I Say” adds to this as a call for optimism over DJ Fresh’s infectious horns. The balance in the album comes with the gritty and sometimes sad parts of life that add to the whole. This is best showcased by “Weight of the World,” which speaks on current affairs over a mellow instrumental. This is also exemplified on “I’m Dreamin,” where he rhymes of days as an indie rapper with “no money, just brains.” Sharing stories of sleeping on floors, he adds that he smiles as he writes of these experiences, another positive aspect that shines here.
That may be a bit too much for some, at times. For instance, “The Dangers of Online Dating” can seem a bit too preachy, though DJ Fresh’s beat acts as one of the album’s most unique and intriguing with interesting sound effects throughout. “Make Em Think” is not a low point by any means but seems like more of the same in beats and rhymes rather than a stand out cut. It should also be noted that the album’s entire production comes courtesy of DJ Fresh who provides some great instrumentals and some that aren’t particularly significant. For instance, Grouch lends some inspired words to “I Love This Game,” but the instrumental doesn’t seem to bring these words to life. The same goes for “Make Em Think.” Grouch, though inspired, also tends to rehash points here. These tracks were easily outshined by the Fashawn and Mistah F.A.B. assisted “Allready,” which was merely a bonus track on the album.
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Still, as mentioned, this is another solid project from The Grouch, even with its flaws. It shows his growth as an artist and as a person, without the need to throw on a collared shirt. Instead, Grouch relies on life lessons, emotional vulnerability and sensible everyday-man Rap to showcase this development. Though it’s by no means a classic, Three Eyes off the Time is just another example of why The Grouch is still releasing music comfortably and consistently as years pass.
