Kollage

Option - "...she comes off flirty but intelligent, lovely but serious. Her rhymes are tricky circles of metaphor and illusion, a mesmerizing mix of unbelievably consistent articulation and snappy whispers....she's breaking ground with mad skills and style..." Entertainment Weekly - "...Her restrained, low-key confidence makes some of rap's ranters and ravers seem uncool by comparison." - Rating: B+ The Source - 3.5 Mics - Dope - "It's easy to see why Guru plucked Bahamadia from the underground Philly scene and enlisted her in the venerable Gang Starr Foundation....a strong intelligent Black woman, something that is much needed in hip-hop today." Rap Pages - 8 (out of 10) - "...To mention the fact that she's a female is unnecessary....Pay attention to the fact that she can chuck 'em with the best MCs known to man--after all she's one of 'em..." Melody Maker - "...half-produced by Premier and that's pretty much how it breaks up, the Premo tracks overshadowing everything else, the lyrical flow best served when running up against his anti-linear beats and loops. Worth checking for these but beware of filla..." Spin - 6 - Reasonably Good - "...The main romance on this album is between Bahamadia and words, the pleasures of hip-hop lyricism--alliteration and internal rhymes..." Vibe - "The album's soulful soundscape -- etched with funk-filled valleys and jazzy peaks -- was constructed by SkiBeats and fellow Illadeph crew The Roots....Simply scintillating." The Source (4/96, p.84) - 3.5 Mics - Dope - "It's easy to see why Guru plucked Bahamadia from the underground Philly scene and enlisted her in the venerable Gang Starr Foundation....a strong intelligent Black woman, something that is much needed in hip-hop today." Rap Pages (6/96, p.30) - 8 (out of 10) - "...To mention the fact that she's a female is unnecessary....Pay attention to the fact that she can chuck 'em with the best MCs known to man--after all she's one of 'em..." Spin (5/96, p.110) - 6 - Reasonably Good - "...The main romance on this album is between Bahamadia and words, the pleasures of hip-hop lyricism--alliteration and internal rhymes..." Melody Maker (6/1/96, p.42) - "...half-produced by Premier and that's pretty much how it breaks up, the Premo tracks overshadowing everything else, the lyrical flow best served when running up against his anti-linear beats and loops. Worth checking for these but beware of filla..." Entertainment Weekly (4/5/96, p.80) - "...Her restrained, low-key confidence makes some of rap's ranters and ravers seem uncool by comparison." - Rating: B+ Option (9-10/96, p.93) - "...she comes off flirty but intelligent, lovely but serious. Her rhymes are tricky circles of metaphor and illusion, a mesmerizing mix of unbelievably consistent articulation and snappy whispers....she's breaking ground with mad skills and style..."

With her Gang Starr connections and a truly unique monotone delivery, Philly MC Bahamadia made an instant impression with her 1996 debut, KOLLAGE. While the album's many different producers make for an at-times uneven ride, Bahamadia's off-center voice and off-kilter rhymes tie the whole affair together. And when DJ Premier is at the helm, it is a meeting of true hip-hop minds, each one elevating the other's game. On the sensual "True Honey Buns", Premier delivers a practically narcotic beat as Bahamadia intoxicatingly illustrates a winding night on the town (complete with flirtatious passes at the Wu Tang Clan). With "Rugged Ruff", the pair veer in the other direction with a sick, swirling, chaotic, ultimately hypnotizing concoction.|