Megadef

Editorial Reviews
From URB Magazine
It's been over four years since L.A.'s ultra-modern duo Styles of Beyond shook rap's subterranean sect with overloaded BPMs and stylish, hasty couplets. After disbanding and reforming, their second effort triumphs thanks to more accessible pacing and polished beatwork from the combo of Vin Skully and DJ Cheapshot. The notable producers relentlessly loop electric guitar riffs from the title track's straightforward strums to heavily distorted axes penetrating "Be Your Dog." Known for lightning quick cuts, the precision crew rolls slow on "Pay Me," decrying how shiesty promoters anticipate free gigs. Glossy basslines populate another standout, "You Lose," where rhymers Tak and Ryu trade language with panache. Rocking retro, "Euro Arobics" delights with a deft resuscitation of electro-rap. With a revamped approach and sustained poetic passion, the crew's undoubtedly still slammin'. Ryu succinctly describes their current state on "Live Enough (remix)": "We changed for the better and got back together."

Craig Smith

Megadef,Styles of Beyond,Ill Boogie (Car469),Pop,Rap,Rock,Underground Rap

Megadef

Tracks:

Intro
Megadef
Mr. Brown
You Lose
Interlude
Be Your Dog
Pay Me
Outta Control
Bleach
Playing With Fire
Live Enough (Remix)
Round 'Em Up
Eurobiks
Superstars

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing, sadly........2007-04-11

I have to admit that I first heard of Styles Of Beyond not from hip hop circles but from a drum and bass remix on a Dieselboy album (the song is Subculture). So I bought 2000 Fold, and it became one of my favorite hip hop albums to date. Then I bought Megadef.

From the beginning of the album you can tell it's different and that the group has changed. Admitedly, I don't know much about hip hop (or SOB for that matter), but I know what I like and I know what the difference between underground and mainstream hip hop/rap is. This album when compared to "2000 Fold" as well as any other underground hip hop album that I've heard feels entirely too commercial and experimental.

I don't know what direction that they were going for when they made this album, but there is also a lot of rock samples and guitar riffs (most likely playing off of the title). Listening through the album, SOB vacillates between rap-rock and near-mainstream rap. Not to mention some 80's Eurotrash sample on "Eurobiks" that is downright abrasive to the ears. "Pay Me" sounds like something straight off of a Ludacris or Big Tymers album. The best track on this album is "Bleach", but only because it's the track that is most like the ones on 2000 Fold. That's not saying much because, like other reviewers have said, the best song on this album doesn't even compare to the worst one on 2000 Fold.

I cannot recommend this album to anybody, not even fans of underground hip hop. Maybe someone would like it if they didn't listen to 2000 Fold first, because that would set the expectations too high. I give Megadef 2 stars instead of 1 for at least trying to expand and progress underground hip hop and further develop their own style, but I don't trust (or like) the creative decisions made for this album. They just don't work, and it doesn't feel right. In the end Megadef doesn't live up to Styles' true potential, and that's the part that's most disappointing.

ummmm.2 1/2 stars.......2007-03-15

I't stinks. What the hell happened.there like annoying and stuff now> OUCH!
Is it possible to reverse growth. Well looks like SOB did. There sound now is
just juvenile.

Bummed on it.......2006-09-16

Styles of beyond are one of my most played artists in my collection of music and one of my most favorite underground groups. I have been bumpin these guys for years and always get excited when I show them to my friends. Sadly, this album was not what i expected. What I hoped for was something similar to 2000 fold, amazing flows and original beats. There are 4 songs on this album that are listenable but not even worthy to the worst song on 2000 fold. Many of you are hating what im saying right now, but this is just my opinion. They brought on the start for my fantastic underground hip hop voyage to begin with and i owe it all to 2000 fold. But thats a different review. I hope their next album doesnt turn to hip-pop. But i will always love SOB no matter what.

Wicked.......2006-05-11

Ive got a few tracks from this album and what ive heard is top qaulity. If you like Linkin Park then you should get this. This i think is alot better Linkin Park so i highly recomend this. Styles of Beyond are kool as f%$K and so get this album.

underrated.......2006-04-13

I love this album. Styles of Beyond is the premiere rap group out the San Fernando Valley and one of the most solid groups in the LA underground. Takbir is in my opinion one of the most on point rappers out there. He reminds me of Rakim in that every syllable hits the beat perfectly, he never lags or slurs his vocals like most other rappers who lack control. Just listen to his verse on "Pay Me" where he starts rappin doubletime and tell me that isn't impressive.

Far as this album being gangsta? The only change is Ryu rhymes harder and he's still sick. Listen to Bleach where Ryu starts rappin in an Irish accent. That's not gangsta, that's fresh. And Takbir still has the same abstract style he had on 2000 Fold, he hasn't change a bit. On Eurobiks, he says he's got a "fascination with the Human League". How is that gangsta? That's like Ice Cube rapping about how much he likes Erasure.

And with "Pay Me", all they're doing is repeating the same thing Immortal Technique did in "Message and the Money". That rappers are a commodity and shouldn't get screwed by promoters. So the guys calling them sell-outs, I don't know what to tell you. All I know is, if they were sell-outs, they wouldn't have made "Mr Brown" the first single and would be sampling showtunes instead of Gigantor

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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