Kabir is a London-born, Boston-bred, self-proclaimed rapper and producer of “Hip hop music, real and raw, cause everything they say I heard it before.” His new album “Fuel for the Fire” is something you most likely haven’t heard before, and surprisingly enough, it’s pretty good. If you are searching for a new hip hop voice who is not interested in pimping and bling-bling, then Kabir’s album is definitely worth a listen.
What makes it a good album is Kabir’s message-driven lyrics and deft beats, as well as a few talented guests to round out this lovably bad-ass release. The lyrical style is quick, biting, and relentless. Kabir takes potshots at everything from the state of hip hop today to the war in Iraq.
In “Rise” Kabir joins with Virtuoso and Ajahni of Vibewise to craft a catchy, uplifting collaboration with the inspiring message “Know yourself, free yourself, see yourself, be yourself.” The track “Hunger” emphasizes Kabir’s opinion of other rappers’ styles, finally asserting “I just throw heat like Pedro / with jams and gems that make heads bop if I say so.”
As well as having ideas about his fellow rappers, Kabir also packs a political punch in the sack. In the aptly named rant, “War,” Kabir delivers a tirade against the Iraq War worthy of a Clear Channel boycott, rapping, “In the quest for peace every step is sacred / But we are pouring fuel on the fire with war and hatred.”
Kabir’s new album is not without weaknesses, though. The biggest problem I had with this album was its use of ancient-sounding ’80s synthesizers as the beats in some of the songs. The intro to “Money” seemed interesting enough at first, until the vocals dropped out and were replaced by a simple synthesized drumbeat and cheesy fake trumpets in the background.
Some of the songs seem repetitive and wordy as well. Kabir has a lot to say, and some songs, like “Adversity,” “Family Feud,” and “Hunger” are so wordy they could almost be the hip hop equivalent of “War and Peace.” This isn’t necessarily bad if you really want to listen to Kabir’s messages, which are interesting to say the least, but sometimes it seems too jumbled and lacks variation.
Kabir is no stranger to some of the bigger hip hop acts around, performing alongside such giants as The Roots, The Beatnuts, Pharcyde, and Wyclef Jean. The Cambridge, Massachusetts resident frequently plays venues in London, Boston, and New York.
If you are a hip hop fan in search of a welcome change of pace in your music and desire some thoughtful lyrics and soulful melodies without any references to “Caddies,” “biatches,” or “whipping out a nine,” then Kabir could be a welcome addition to your hip hop playlist.
Jon Blood can be contacted at [email protected]