Recall the ’90s glory years of independent Hip Hop. Labels like Fondle ‘Em, Rawkus and Rhymesayers were able to build foundations of fans willing to trust the label on new artists. Out of seemingly nowhere, acts like MHz, J-Treds and I Self Divine became underground stalwarts. Absense of video, Internet presence and even covert art added mystery to the music, and the community combatted the shiny suit/sunglasses rappers of the mainstream with metal masks, low brims and hoodies always up. Florida’s Domination Recordings might now be getting their due credit for keeping this tradition alive, but just as they’ve previously delivered crate gems for Breez Evahflowin and Count Bass D, so comes a call back to sneak attacks in Tzarizm’s The Heart & Brain Mbodiment.
The Brooklyn-based emcee/producer Tzarizm is hardly new on the scene. He’s worked with Akrobatik, Butta Verses and DXnext alum Dynas. However, with Heart & Brain Mbodiment seemingly being his full-length, the project carries great basement charm. “Ol’ Man” is demonstrative of the disregarded blueprint here. With a simple Otis Redding guitar-and-vocal loop, the song celebrates being a curmudgeon with soulful style. The beat is freaked simply, with clever nature prior to the chorus. Never has being an old soul sounded so cool. Not getting too technical is Tzarizm’s charm. “Rockstarr” sounds like a late ’90s demo tape belonging to a would-be great group. A sped-up version of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing,” coupled with dirty drums won’t impress any crate diggers but the overall tribute to late guitar genius/personal testimony about aspirations is truly captivating.
AD LOADING...
What’s more, The Heart & Brain Mbodiment has that ensemble feel. DJ YNot gets it in on “The Lung Breathez” akin to show that not only well-known deejays are in deep concentration. “Brain Wave” is very akin to simple, rhyme-heavy interludes like Clear Blue Skies‘ standout “A Rainy Saturday.” Notable emcees such as Wordsworth, Kam Moye and Akrobatik swing through, but Tzarizm never loses his conductor’s wand. At 22 tracks, he stuffs years of preparation into this debut.
The Heart & Brain Mbodiment can easily be compared to a lot of moments from 15 years ago, but it’s its own entity. Tzarizm is not out to copy, but create. Within those 22 offerings, nothing sounds out of place, but some moments stand out from others. With truly dreadful cover art, little introduction and not a lot of context though, this album’s unpretentious charm makes it soar in an era of industry-evangelist rappers. Tzarizm seems less interested in telling you his life story or making an overly thematic album that the listener feels almost more engaged – and from the simple-but-addictive beats to the working-man verses, this “mbodies” so much more than it takes ownership of. Sometimes less is far more.
