3.5/5
Settling The Score.
Pure poetry from the introspective introduction (the Ram Dass searing 'Scene & Setting'), the spoken word like rapper, John Forté makes his latest album, 'Vessels, Angels and Ancestors' his ascension. Going forth with album number four, the Brownsville, Brooklyn brownstone, New York native once made his name with the same iconic group who just announced their reunion, The Fugees and their big breakthrough, 'The Score'. Being just as instrumental to that cult, classic rap production as the guitar of Wyclef Jean's right-hand man, Jerry Wonder. But after killing us softly like "ooh, la, la, la" with Ms. Hill and Pras, Forté served jail-time in 2000. Serving 14 years for accepting a briefcase containing $1.4 million of liquid cocaine. Charged with possession and the intent to distribute. Now the former reportoire executive at Rawkus Records (were the likes of Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Hi-Tek and more made their Black Star name), who is classical trained on violin and cites Vivaldi as inspiration is back. The Grammy winner who has even worked on crossover audio and visual projects with '50/50' actor Joesph Gordon-Levitt gives us an album of real depth amongst shallow vessels. One that even reaches to the angel wings of poetic muses in ancestry like the great Gil Scott-Heron. On his own opener 'Begin Again', he truly does. Stating, "in the presence of grace and grief/A sun rose again, we face the East/Take a breath, hold it in, release/You are precisely where you are meant to be." Right here. Right now. Ready or not.
Fielding '88' with Fielded as his runner on the corner, Forté forges his craft, "(spending Winter in the woods with the beat machine/Just me, the echo box and the evergreens/I sat still on the top of the hill so I could get a little closer to whatever means/Watch for storm's and what the weather brings/Sipping my song/I do a rain dance on them and watch heaven perform/You got hot last summer, but the tea got warm." Damn! Let that brew, because as Erykah once said for her 'Baduizm', "would anybody like a cup of tea". "I will" like Kweli replied live at Dave Chappelle's 'Block Party' in NYC's BK. And then this symbolic album like a string instrument continues with the 'Shame, Shame' over some classic acoustic slapping. "The light in your eyes is where God resides/I am a man and I am civilised", he tells us. Empowering both us and his and our sense of self in turn. It's 'So Quiet Hereafter' with a hunting track that means more as dear John devotes his mind to wondering why there's nothing to say from those in power after rioters storm The Capitol and domestic terrorism wreaks havoc in a nation that's still afraid of everyone that doesn't look like them. "Floating/Get in your boat an go down the stream" he demands with Billy Woods for 'Good Money' over its dark designs that holds up his production canvas like a mirror to the world for "visions beyond the eyes" as his "position was compromised". Don't let yours be.
'Hungry' for more with Ben Taylor, Forté keeps eating away at his craft until out speakers are full, not famished. "Careful what you say/No more words for wastin'/Identites mistaken/Want to see your freedom taken", Ben sings on tailor made hook to "set the record straight" like the score. But coming out of the house of pain with Everlast for 'Gas', John is "at the precipice". Ignited like nitrus as keeps it real like "organic". Smoking smouldering lyrics like, "haters don't break me, the make fuel/Gas, gas, gas, gas." 'Ready On The One' with a posse of Spills, Five and Miss Brittany Reese sounds like something out of a western like 'Concrete Cowboy' Idris Elba's 'The Harder They Fall' gang in Netflix, as the bigger they come." I'm Gandhi in his prime/Malcolm at his peak/Martin making his last speech/Like Rosa taking her last seat/I'm Marcus making his last reach". Enough said. This aims higher than a quick draw in its own saloon. My lord, on 'Zugzwang' a forlorn Forté keeps in heart what matters, Black Lives. "Singing kumbaya, nah/More like stop shooting...us." "Tonight's nominee is an anomaly/I beg your pardon your honor, but I'm the honorary" he certifies as the 'Source Legit' with Rising Appalachia for all you lover boys who think you're 'Way Too Sexy'. This could subtly take your shirt off as he rips the game like no dice. Before the 'Ancestors' in closing with a book-ending Dass takes us away on this spiritual journey. "That which is not love will pale in comparison" Forté forewarns us as he disappears with the smoke of his own haze. Like fables from Aesop, learning us life lessons as he leaves. "Play hard, play fair, play your position/Walk good, be well, be the difference." Footprints set in the sand that should be like stone. What other way could you walk as we follow? TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'Begin Again', 'So Quiet Thereafter', 'Ready On The One'.
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