| With guest shots going out to the likes of Chuck D, Akrobatik and H20 of Mass
Influence, Dillon & Paten Locke's newest release, Studies In Hunger, is stuffed
with savory promises. Dillon's voice can easily be compared to artists like the
late J Dilla or Talib Kweli and his collaboration with beat maker and master
cutter Paten Locke resonates with an energy and eclecticism similarly found in
projects by music pioneer Danger Mouse.
Studies In Hunger is chock full of silly little skits, as Dillon and Paten
Locke aren't afraid of having fun. It's a curve that works to their advantage,
because the record is far from a joke. While it has its moments of hilarity, the
album is balanced by sultry digressions into the soul - a seriousness that
equals the record's ?comedic flair.
Paten Locke uses a myriad of effects, voices and instruments to create a
hip-hop climate unlike anything you can find on the radio. It warps around
lyrics and underneath hypes, splicing in food-driven analogies for a lifestyle
you can't help but find intriguing. On "Rosie Perez," Paten Locke uses a tight
drum backdrop, drawling horn section and a host of other noises and knocks to
keep the album bumpin' to the comedic beat. Equally impressive is the track
"Love Died," which showcases Dillon's easygoing flow and ability to
conceptualize rhymes with an unrivaled creative edge. (Domination Records)
www.myspace.com/dillonmaurer
www.myspace.com/theblacktherapy
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