Album: Scribe – Rhyme Book

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As suddenly as New Zealand Hip Hop superstar Scribe emerged with the gold and platinum-selling The Crusader, he seemed to fall under the radar almost as quickly, leaving many to wonder why he didn’t capitalize on his success, because as many know success is fleeting in the fickle world of music. Some four years later, Scribe returns with his anticipated second album Rhyme Book and luckily he comes back with just as much fire and determination as the first time around.

In comparison to the lead singles from The Crusader, the choice of tracks to introduce the masses to Rhyme Book were heavily questioned by critics and listeners alike, thinking that Scribble had turned his back on the style he originally emerged with. Admittedly, this critic was among the disillusioned fans upon hearing the Dirty South-inspired, synth flavour of My S**t and the percussive club ready F.R.E.S.H. They may still sound a little out of character, however in context with the entire album the tracks are nowhere near as cringe-worthy as people were leading them on to be originally.

Scribe has shown a reflective and vulnerable side to his music since his debut, however it is taken further with this release on cuts like Don’t Look Back. The track finds him tracing back his relationship with Hip Hop and the personal sacrifices he has made over the years for his music career. A.W.O.L, driven by a simple acoustic guitar and light drum pattern backdrop, follows in a similar style. Scribe details his method of creating music, by putting on a beat and getting lost in the music, joined by the talented Ladi 6 and John Luafutu.

The Christchurch representer keeps it mostly in the family as far as guest artists are concerned, however he does add a new element to his game with the positive vibes of Be Alright, where he is joined by Talib Kweli for a collabo of international proportions.

It was always going to be a challenge for Scribe to live up to the expectations set by his debut album, however throughout the album you get the feeling that he enjoys a challenge. While he may not be the world’s greatest lyricist and there is room for improvement, he has elevated his career to a higher level and is a rare breed of artist that stays grounded and positive despite the success and acclaim that has come his way. All of these characteristics make Rhyme Book a winner.

Available Through Dirty Records