Date :  Sunday 18 January, 2009 
Source :  Urb 
 
A turban-wrapped ninja slayer from the land of moose and Mounties, Corvid Lorax is a true eccentric, a liver of his look and not the head-turner type battling his peers for hypebeast honors. As such, Corvid’s musical niche of choice plays more flex than fitted, a style that plays and changes itself throughout N.I.C.E. (Ninjas in Cities Everywhere) with the surprise refreshment those Sierra Mist commercials could only hope to convey. Perhaps the great mystery behind the veil of Corvid Lorax’s face fur and turban is his ability to prod questions about your own preference, how YOU define “good hip-hop”. The result is an album with the potential to be both loved and hated by the taste-specific factions in the war of hip-hop fandom. Luckily, N.I.C.E. ended up on this reviewer's desk, and so turning a blind eye to the home-brewed outlandishness of its cover art, lets outline the musical qualities of Next 1000 artist Corvid Lorax’s latest.

From the perspective of a hip-hop historian, this album wears its influence fresh-pressed and well-dressed. The undeniably underground production and quick polysyllabic rhyme styles moonlight a Souls of Mischief, Pharcyde, and Freestyle Fellowship tilt, especially considering posse-cuts like “LWR”, where Lorax shares mic time with record-mates. Being battle-ready is just the icing on Corvid Lorax’s lyrical repertoire, as a careful ear could catch the introspection and wit of a Personal Journals era Sage. Add flashes of Mos Def-like vocalizations and you’ll see what I see in Corvid Lorax…variety. Beats range from the smooth fast rhyme-ready type to grimy samurai samples with Wu-Tang style. Peep the “Intro” for a promising preview of the bass boom and sampling found throughout.

Beyond how Corvid Lorax reminds one of other times and other artists, N.I.C.E. is a labor of love, and that alone is respect and listen-worthy. With high-style, crisp production and recording styles at the average-man’s fingertips, Corvid Lorax and company take a step back. Playing to a hip-hop era where every man couldn’t produce and every rapper couldn’t style, the Little Whore Records team put together an ass-freezing backyard party of an album. In the midst of beanies and beatboxers, the Lorax-types of speed and philosophy are king. With West coast lyricism and little-town substance, Ninjas In Cities Everywhere is a balanced art with rotating rhyme-styles of varying cadence, and a collection of foggy, bumping, underground beats. There is a bit tougher listening through some of the more obnoxious styles of Corvid and his buds, but in some cases these change-ups are for the best. Many will never hear N.I.C.E., others will hear it and not get it, not to mention the countless others judging this book by its kooky cover. Still, for those willing or at the very least curious, Corvid Lorax will satisfy at the most fundamental levels with lyrical onslaught that encompasses other rappers entire albums on a single track.