It only seems like the Boot Camp Click have fallen on hard times. While recent Soundscan numbers may reflect another picture, a quick listen to the Click's recent work and one can easily tell that the organization's brand of street poetics still remain as grimy as ever. Recent works by the Cocoa Brovas and Heltah Skeltah (respectively 1998's The Rude Awakening and Magnum Force) and Black Moon (this year's War Zone), while unable to meet the focus, virility and consistency of each of the group's previous albums, still made up for it in sheer intensity and wordplay. And, surprisingly enough, it is OGC's current banger M-Pire Shrikez Back that has served as a superb boost to the camp's current standing.
Newcomers The Representativz, consisting of the duo of Lido Rock and Supreme have been rockin' mics since the late 80's yet were first witnessed by the general public on Heltah Skeltah's Nocturnal LP. Their debut album reflects there hardrock Brooklyn comeuppance—from start to finish Angels Of Death offers up undiluted emotion, where token B-boyism is replaced by holier-than-thou ghetto politics. Throughout the album the duo proceed to lick shots on fake neighborhood denizens, flip your babymama 30 ways and express genuine thoughts on inner-city nihilism. The production, a barrage of ample bass, sirens, straddling funk and big drums beats suits the duos semantics and provides just the right backdrop for The Representatives game of life.
On the opening "Spazzout" the duo blame their fury on simply being products of their environment ("I'm from Brownsville, ya' heard me/ The home of the gun thirsty") explain away the trife life as simply the way it is when life exists at the bottom of the barrel. "Tell Me," while taking a break from the action to spout grunts of domestic affairs ("Pataki got sons that'll snatch up anybody/ like Rodney the dangerfield is where we play") uses a lone piano key to such stirring effect that it literally shills your spinal cord. While on cuts like the blazing "The Richer," "Lessons II Learn" and "Represent Baby," Lidu and Supreme get a tremendous dose of lyrical support from fellow Bootcamp vets The Cocoa Brovas and Heltah Skeltah.
All in all, Angels Of Death is a tight debut from the latest group to emerge from The Boot Camp Click proving that the future of the Click is undoubtedly in good hands.
– Cleon Alert