Best Kept Secret

Ultramagnetics MCs

Without making a big deal about it via a hubristic, grandiose intro, or even a resurrection declaration chorus, The Ultramagnetic MC's long-awaited reunion CD is here, and they haven't skipped a step on their personal journey to the capital city of abstract madness that they were the prime architects and first rap mayors of. Coming with a stream-of-unconsciousness freestyle funk that comes at you at angles and which you can never anticipate accurately, 'The Plaques' starts off the proceedings perfectly... not that you expect to know what's next with the famous four freaks of the industry that have been redefining rap since the early 80's.

The 'shake your bon-bon' adlib after Kool Keith's nutty, word-repeating and circular flowing verse on 'Late Nite Rumble' is entertaining, simultaneously a head-nodding and head-scratching experience. It's a solo Kool Keith excursion that ends before you want it to. One guess as to who the producer is, a pseudonym of some fine young gentleman named 'Underwear Pissy'. Thankfully, 'Mechanism Nice (Born Twice)' descends with its tubular bells and thick rubber low end bassline, as Ced Gee and Keith craft a shoutout list unlike anything you've heard before, and give a new school lesson on how they see truth in hip hop, and who they see as true in hip hop, as well. Moe Luv's beat is the perfect creation for the official Ultramagnetic MCs comeback song, regardless of whether there still exists a similar fan base or audience for their wacky brand of New York hip hop. If you want to find a refreshing sound, look no further.

'Ain't It Good 2 U', produced by Ced Gee is a vaguely earthbound ode to strippers, exotic dancers and hookers, as debauchery of all kinds is expressed. Not too sure it will be the new 'I Fell In Luv Wit A Stripper', but it's a decent start. 'Super Spellbound' is solid as a rock, but the speakers start poppin' when 'Pop Bottles' is uncorked, Underwear Pissy's second production contribution, as it pulses forward with a double time hi-hat and some meaty bass accompanying the comedic chorus (what else? a call to arms for you to 'pop bottles') within other random real-or-imaginary rich rapper statements. The reference to 'Poppa Large' is just dope, and the song is classic Kool Keith craziness.

"I expose the lubrication between the lips of Meghan Goooood/ on the top of the Volkswagon hoooood" is how Keith over-enunciates on 'Porno Star (Part 2)', and the moaning ad-libs in the back are simply perfect. If you got the guess wrong as to who 'Underwear Pissy' is, then the self-titled solo track of the same title will enlighten you completely: "I love when human niggas look like a Cabbage Patch/ when I staple they lips together... wipe the doo-doo off your chest - uh! / it's the shit investor!/ ...you killed yourself in a Testaross-O/ doing 200 miles somewhere with a broke ho!" Those are the immortal lyrics of the one named Keith Thornton. Often imitated, never duplicated.

Fourteen tracks deep, this CD is exactly what it should be, and nothing but. This may escape mainstream acceptance, but there is more imagination and fun on this CD than there will be on 90% of the mainstream albums released by anyone a part of today's new generation of MCs. 'The Best Kept Secret' sounds like a true reunion album, with coherent and cohesive concepts, united by the group's layered ad-libs and combined energy. And even though DMAFT Records isn't Next Plateau Records and the year is not 1988, Ultramagnetic MCs are still as insanely genius as they ever were, and 'The Best Kept Secret' stands up against their previous efforts, 'Critical Beatdown', 'Funk Your Head Up' and 'The Four Horsemen'. Quietly, Ultramag is back in full effect, and for those who want their hip hop kinda weird or very funky, here's your next party disc. Leak this secret.

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