Diverse-City Album Review

[Forrest Lawrence]

On Saturday, I placed a CD in my player in the car, and honestly
haven't removed it since, haven't really listened to the radio since
either. I'm like that with all new CD's. I'm such an avid fan of music
that I like to analyze each track. Often playing it back several times
because I'm sure I missed something previously.
So this CD I've been listening to; Diverse-City, by artist Cool Mill,
proves to be quite the refreshing hip-hop treat. Okay,
seriously...it's a lyrical work out. While constantly repeating
certain tracks, it took me a couple of hours to get through the 20-
track disc the first time I listened to it. Upon first listen, some
tracks grab you right away, those that don't grab you in the first or
second round, will surely get you by the third round.
Cool Mill takes his listeners out of their comfort zone. With a CD
titled Diverse-City, you have to provide a diverse mixture of style,
sound, and content., and he does just that. The diversity in the
project explains why various songs grab some people right away, and
others take you a minute. Cool Mill tours his listeners through a city
that he has created; one that has a swag that's so 'swaggtastic'. It
compiles the sounds you typically hear up north, on the east coast,
out west, and down south. He definitely has a style that's all his
own, with the often slurred word play. His lyrical content is
relevant, witty, and sometimes simply silly.
Even though he plays with the varying sounds of hip-hop on each track,
he "maintains his lane". From the very conscious "Stretch", to the Go-
Go track "Break a Leg", Cool Mill definitely showcases his range
without compromising his sound, or imitating the sound of others.
While refreshing and new, his music still has a sound the current
markets are used to. This should prove to ease the transition from
'indie' artist, to 'indie' artist with mainstream appeal. Touting the
mantra of MC's with degrees, and the GEAK SKWAD, Cool Mill is taking
hip hop back to its roots, when it was cool to be educated. There are
a few tracks that have that feel good vibe to them, definite classic
appeal similar to the appeal of the Fresh Prince's (That's Will Smith
for you 'youngsters') "Summer Time".
Personally, I think we have enough pseudo thugs rapping garbage over
hot beats, it's about time we heard someone else match their lyrical
content with the beats they're spittin' over. Cool Mill certainly has
content in his bag of tricks, add stellar production, and a few catchy
hooks, and you have a product that ready to be shrink wrapped, bar
coded, and sold. If I had to compare this artist to current mainstream
'celebs', I couldn't just compare him to one, but if you like the
content of Mos Def; the lyrical expressions of Talib Kweli; the
smoothness of Common; and those make your body move beats that only
the South can provide, you will definitely love Cool Mill and his
Diverse-City.
A Overall Production
C+ Mass Appeal
(scored low in this area, because the masses appears to be consuming
recycled garbage with no content, or content void of a message. This
artists actually has a message and he delvers it well. We think he has
much mass appeal, but think he and his positive lyrics will face
hurdles when seeking general approval )
B Uniqueness
B+ Lyrical Content
A IT Factor
G.P.A (Good Product Average) 3.4 on a 4.0 scale
I Hustle, Amer-I-Can, Black History, and Stretch are definite bangers
to check for.
Visit www.coolmill.net for more from this artist.



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