Word Of Mouth
Can a rapper grow old? In John Reuben’s latest release, long gone is the spastic 21-year-old who launched his career with light-hearted rap-pop tunes. The largely introspective Word of Mouth shows Reuben’s maturity both in sound and rhymes.
In what feels like an extended therapy session, Reuben wrestles with questions about his life-stage and career: What is success? Is this life really worth it? “The party ain’t stopping ’til we outgrown it,” Reuben exclaims in the opening track. “Roaring 20s, depressed at 30.” This could lead to a real downer of a CD, yet Reuben wraps his musings in cynical wit and fresh musical eclecticism. Picture a deep-thinking Beck with the organic stylings of Ill Harmonics.
From the country-picking of “Make Money Money” to the Bee Gee disco vocals of “Good Evening,” Reuben mixes styles and genres even more successfully than in the past. The result is far more focused than the bipolar The Boy vs the Cynic.
Is Word of Mouth destined to be the next soundtrack to a teen dance-party? Not likely. But it should satisfy those looking for hip-hop with honesty and substance.
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Review by: Norm McDonald
Originally published March 01, 2007.
