Search - Panjabi Mc :: Beware

Infectious, catchy and fresh

G. Gant | Eugene, OR United States | 12/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I originally heard Pan'Jabi MC a few months ago by chance after a random click on launch.yahoo.com. I was quite taken by the lead song, Jobi. Just recently I found there CD and on a whim, bought it. I'm by taste, a fan of most forms of rap and hip hop (minus dirty south) and up for listening to most anything hip hop. Pan'Jabi is fresh, using traditional Indian instruments and lyrics over modern hip hop break beats and bass lines. There's some fun reworking of TV show themes as "Beware" uses a clever interpretation of the Knight Rider theme song and Magnum PI can be found in Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee. The knight rider bit has been done before by various beat smiths for a few major rap artists, but not quite like this. Add an on point, Jay-Z (as much as I love him, he can be a bit sloppy) and you've got one sick track. The only gripes I have with this CD is the few English tracks, minus the Jay-Z one, aren't quite as stimulating as the rest of the CD. True MC's is your atypical underground anti-commercial bite on main stream rap but without some of the lyrical dexterity of more recent artists like Louis Logic's Street Smarts. Sounds of the Dres doesn't fair much better; run of the mill smoked out rhymes lack the energy and flair found on the rest of the CD. Still, the whole CD is quite listenable. All it takes is an open mind, an ear for new and different sounds and at least a little love for hip hop and you'll be blessed with one hell of a CD."

Taking on the World!

Frederick Evans | Sao Paulo, Brazil | 11/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Its kind of amazing to see how music can break all ethnic, religious and cultural boundaries. I am about to write a review for an artist from India, in an American website, and I live in Brazil! Its awesome! Anyway, I was listening to the radio the other day and suddently this song came up...nice beats, some dude singing in arabic or something, but somehow I really enjoyed. Then I was in a club and the same song came about and you should've been there to see the crowds reaction....it was like everyone was waiting for it...the floor just exploded! Well, to make a long story short, I found out that Panjabe MC does not sing in arabic (obviously!) and that "Beware" kicks butt!! I really dont have a clue what he says, but I guess in this case his music is very intuitive for me..I like it even though I dont understand the words. Anyway, just wanted to drop by my 2 cents and give thumbs up for Panjabi"

A seemingless blend of two cultures meshed into one sound

Erica Anderson | Minneapolis, MN | 09/13/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am not really that into music from India except for Talvin Singh with his blend of traditional Indian music and modern drum & bass...and now Panjabi MC. I came across "Beware" today in the used cd bins. I bought it because I really wanted to check out what people are raving about when it came to Panjabi MC. I have heard nothing but good things about him. My first exposure to Panjabi MC's music just happened to be recently on the fourth volume of the Buddha Bar series. The song was "Mundian To Bach Ke" (otherwise known as "Beware"). The song piqued my curiousity. I was intrigued by the fusion of traditional Indian melodies and modern hip hop beats courtesy of Panjabi MC himself. As I am listening to "Beware", find myself completely astounded how much I am enjoying this cd. I find "Beware" completely refreshing in today's modern music scene. I am not a hip hop fan by all means by I did actually enjoy the Jay-Z remix of the title track. I swear on track 6 "Jatt Ho Giya Sharabee", Panjabi samples the theme song from the '80s cheeseball fest "Magnum P.I". I am pretty sure he did and if so, I thought Panjabi did an excellent job at handling the sample. There wasn't one song on the album that I did not like. After listening to "Beware", I definitely could see myself exploring music from India. I certainly have to rank "Beware" as one of the best cds to come out this year."