Artist: Rob SwiftTitle: Soulful FruitRating: 4 StarsReviewed by: Martin A. Berrios
As a culture we owe it to ourselves to show DJ’s more respect. People forget that Hip-Hop spawned from breaks and backspins. Queens born Rob Swift has always tried to take the art to higher planes and his album Soulful Fruit. (Fat Beats), originally released in 97 on Stones Trow, opened doors for the turntablist music genre. Now eight years later, this work of art is once again available thanks to the reissue treatment from Fat Beats.
Rob sets the laidback mood by playing some classic breaks. On “The Mad Scientist Of The Turntables,” he lays down precise crab cuts and jabs over the original sample to Large Professor’s “Mad Scientist.” Things take a very interesting note on “Rob Swift Versus Rahzel.” In the live battle, Rob cooks up hypnotizing beat juggles encompassing Group Home’s banger “Supastar,” KRS-ONE’s “South Bronx” and Biz Markie’s “Make The Music.” Rahzel mimics them with his signature beatbox skills. The match up is a classic example of Hip-Hop creativity at its best. Other highlights include the X-Cutioner crew session “A Turntable Xperience.”
Point blank, Soulful Fruit was ahead of its time. The throwbacks are a pleasant listen and his hand wizardry only adds to this project’s official-ness. This tasty treasure should be in any die hard Hip-Hop fan’s library.