- Audio CD (25 Jun 2007)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Universal / Island
- ASIN: B000PHW0F6
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 101,136 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Review
It's been 8 years since Pharoahe Monch's first album, Internal Affairs, which included the massive single ''Simon Says''. He had released three critically-acclaimed albums before then as part of the Organized Konfusion but Desire is only his second solo album. The New Yorker is regarded as one of hip-hop's most powerful and technically skilled MCs and this album has definitely been long-awaited.
Label issues are partly to blame for the wait (he's no longer with Rawkus) but you can't help but think that Pharoahe Monch is a perfectionist and wanted to come back with an album that was a statement (including the cover which shows his face covered in bandages like a mummy).
Desire is not one for background listening - you get drawn in from the start. Most of the first half of the album has a big and boombastic sound. There's so much to this album in terms of influences. The title track highlights Pharoahe's soulful vibe, ''Push'' has a gospel slant, ''Welcome to the Terrordome'' is Public Enemy-influenced and ''Let's Go'' has a big sound matched with old skool scratching. The claustrophobic ''When the Gun Draws'' tackles gun crime, once again backing up claims that Monch can be one of hip-hop's most provocative and outspoken lyricists.
The mood changes with the single ''Body Baby'', the most radio-friendly track (which comes complete with an Outkast-style video with Pharoahe dressed like Elvis). If this fun number gets people to pick up this album then good, but there are better tracks. He hits gentler notes with slow-tempo tracks ''Bar Trap'', ''Hold On'' featuring Erykah Badu (the only big name guest on this album) and ''So Good''. The album ends with the eerie ''Trilogy'', which highlights Pharoahe Monch's strength in story-telling and the cinematic angle of the whole album.
While comparisons with Kanye West are justified in parts, it's mainly because Desire is the first hip-hop record in recent years that can actually stand up to The College Dropout, in other words it is a near-masterpiece. --Ilka Schlockermann
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album has some quality songs on it, these are: Free, Desire, Push, Body Baby, and Trilogy, if you love your hip-hop to be less gangsta and more political and about todays issues then this is the album for you. If you like artists like Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Common. Then get this album!!!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
You'll need a bit of time to get into this album. Once you do, you'll realise you are in the presence of one of the best Hip Hop albums in years. Soulful, conscious, and with Monch's inimitable flow, it's a gem that will keep you company throughout the dark, Flo Rider-inspired days that the genre is currently going through.
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Believe the hype.. Whilst Pharoahe produced the goods with Organized Konfusion, i have always thought that his solo work has somehow not come up to scratch BUT BUT, and this comes from someone who listens to ALOT of genres of music, and is a serious-or was a serious hiphop fan (till it all went identikit and unoriginal):
THIS WILL BE A TOP 5 LP OF THE YEAR
This is a funky, brass laden, lyrically strong LP almost on a K-0S vibe. Its Pharoahes best work to date...Welcome to the Terrordome, Trilogy, Body Baby, Desire.... in fact every track is a gem, a sheer delight to listen to.
IGNORE the ignorant rambling of the fool below, he probably likes P-Diddy, THIS is how hiphop should sound, this is hiphop of the days of old, this is why i loved hiphop... beats, rhymes and life (not to mention skills). NOT bland unoriginal beats similar to another artist, "bling", rented cars, Boring blags and fake gangsta posturing!
DjRhimes
THIS WILL BE A TOP 5 LP OF THE YEAR
This is a funky, brass laden, lyrically strong LP almost on a K-0S vibe. Its Pharoahes best work to date...Welcome to the Terrordome, Trilogy, Body Baby, Desire.... in fact every track is a gem, a sheer delight to listen to.
IGNORE the ignorant rambling of the fool below, he probably likes P-Diddy, THIS is how hiphop should sound, this is hiphop of the days of old, this is why i loved hiphop... beats, rhymes and life (not to mention skills). NOT bland unoriginal beats similar to another artist, "bling", rented cars, Boring blags and fake gangsta posturing!
DjRhimes
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Not that good.....
This album had alot of hype when it released and Ive always been a fan of The Monch but I was pretty dissappointed with this. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2007 by Tm Lloyd
I agree with Ted
Pharoahe showed his lyrical ability with Organised Konfusion and his work on the countless Rawkus Records compilations, but his solo stuff has been mediocre. Read more
Published on 10 Oct 2007 by Matthew Bartlett
get this album right now !!
if you can pick it up on the cheap 2nd hand even better.
some of the best tracks of the year, and yeah a few fillers. but its a great album all the same.
some of the best tracks of the year, and yeah a few fillers. but its a great album all the same.
Published on 4 Aug 2007 by rodders81
INSTANT CLASSIC
TED FROST WOULDN'T RECOGNISE REAL HIP HOP IF IT BIT HIM ON THE ON HIS 'MEDIOCRE' BACKSIDE. PHAROAHE IS A RAPPERS RAPPER HE'S LIGHT YEARS AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION. Read more
Published on 7 July 2007 by TROUBLEMAKER
Disappointing
Ok. No need to get angry. If I liked P Diddy I would hardly even know of Pharoahe Monch, what is this about blags? My review was not disparaging, just a little critical. Read more
Published on 5 July 2007 by Ted Frost
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