Linear Language by Syst (Review)
Let’s make a short list of white rappers. First, there are The Beastie Boys, the patriarchs of all white rhymers. Then you have Eminem, 2003’s Vanilla Ice according to Benzino. In the Christian market, Furthermore and the Ill Harmonics (Syst’s sound is much like the Harmonics) come to mind. And Vanilla has already been mentioned, if only in comparison, as the man who once got rich off of black culture and then tried to make a comeback as a Limp Bizkit offshoot (which raises some serious questions about the guy’s motives and real roots).
Little T and One Track Mike had that “Shaniqua” song on MTV, but then fell off the face of the Earth. Surprisingly enough, Little T and One Track Mike are still playing shows and are really quite original, sounding like a hip-country, spoken word outfit rather than Eminem wannabes. The guy was opening for Ben Kweller, My Morning Jacket, and Mates of State, if that gives you any idea of what his crowd might enjoy. Then we have El-P, who is quite skilled and is considered one of the better MCs in the hip-hop world.
What I’m basically getting at is that white rappers can easily sound hackneyed unless their skills are honed and they are not simply trying to ape black culture. But it’s not too difficult to come off like you’re trying way too hard when you’re from Minnesota, white, and use words like “ill.”
Such is the case for Syst, who could be accused of being a hacker of black hip-hop during the first 6 tracks of Linear Language. The rhymes are weak and boring and the beats are weak and boring (sort of like this sentence). But then somebody told him it was alright to be himself, and the last 6 tracks step it up, both lyrically and the beat-wise.
Beginning with the title track, Syst displays an artsy hip-hop style akin to A Tribe Called Quest as opposed to the hard, “I’m a wanksta” approach a la the mother-stinking N.W.A. The tracks following Linear Language were easily digested and really quite enjoyable. I simply forgot that I was listening to a white boy and just starting soaking in some nice beats and skilled rhyming.
Written by Jeffrey Ellinger.