South Central Thynk Taynk (Remastered)

In an attempt to lend emotional credibility to the genre of rap, much in the same way that Curtis Mayfield or Marvin Gaye did for '70s soul music, Abstract Tribe Unique not only goes out on a limb, but also proves it to be a beautiful place to perch. With the beats provided by Fat Jack bordering on the ethereal and the lyrics provided by Abstract Rude lingering among the esoteric, South Central Thynk Tank is an album made especially for mature hip-hop aficionados. Whether it be the guiding nature of "No Regrets," the brutal truth of "Why Oh Why," the opulent projections of "Just Like Akira," or the hopefulness of "Through These Streets," Abstract Tribe Unique is certainly not afraid to let it all hang out as they deal with delicate issues. Neo-soul before there was ever such a thing as neo-soul, South Central Thynk Tank naturally bridges the gap between musical generations. Yet not to be confused as soft, the heart of the lion pumps strong throughout the album and especially on tracks such as "LA Styles Back" and "Showgun." ~ Robert Gabriel