Search - Pharaohe Monch :: Internal Affairs

Top 5 hip-hop album of 1999

Patrick G. Varine | Georgetown, Delaware | 01/24/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Talk about going for the throat.Pharoahe Monch doesn't mess around when it comes to his music. He wants it loud, right in your face, and his lyrics are the same way. As half of Organized Konfusion, he has consistently held it down as a lyrical heavyweight, constructing complex rhymes that deal with multiple ideas at once. All in all, it makes for one BANGIN' album. When those horns start layin' that nasty loop for "Simon Says," you KNOW it's on.This is a consistently good, high-energy album that in my opinion is DEFinitely in contention for tightest release of the year. Pharoahe handles the bulk of the production (admirably, might I add), and the rest he delegates to some of New York's nicer hardcore beatmakers, the likes of Diamond D and others.Honestly, there isn't a song on this album that can be pegged as bad. From the rollicking "Intro" to the ominous/paranoid "Behind Closed Doors" to the smooth guitar licks of "The Light," it's just one jewel after another.And while some of the highlight tracks are collabos (Common and Talib Kweli lend a hand to the string-laden "The Light," M.O.P. stomps holes in the heavy "No Mercy," even Busta Rhymes guests on the Spanish-inflected "The Next Sh*t"), the real meat of this album comes when Pharoahe rolls solo. "Queens" is a round-the-way paean to his hometown that bumps like a champ, and even tracks with no concept behind them are still made likable by the banging production and Monch's clever wordplay.But the pinnacle of this album comes early, in the form of "Rape," where lines like "Witness a nigga who will take rap and chase it/To unoccupied dimly lit staircases and rape it" illustrate the borderline-disturbing metaphor for Monch's lyrical skill. It's a brilliant song (albeit a little sensitive of a topic), one that won't soon be forgotten.Do yourself a favor. Get wise to the real hip-hop and buy this album."

Still not a slave to the rhythm

Masir | Atlanta, GA | 12/28/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If Mos Def's superb solo debut wasn't enough to let you know that losing a partner doesn't mean losing musical focus then let Pharoahe Monch tell you. Actually, both solo albums surpass their groups' last efforts. But Pharoahe's triumph is more of a comeback than anything. See, Pharoahe has tasted critical glory despite being commercially ignored. Organized Konfusion's first record, O.K. and especailly the follow up, Stress: The Extinction Agenda are considered underground classics. And in case you didn't know, the headline of this review comes courtesy of a line from the Stress track "Thirteen". "Thirteen" is one of many tracks that preceeded the intellectual edge found on many parts of Internal Affairs. Long time Organized heads will reminisce of Pharoahe's "Stray Bullet" after hearing concept gems like "Rape". It probably sounds redundant too speak on how dope both Simon Says and the remix are but for this review it is very relevent. See, Internal Affairs works because he has always been regarded as one of the illest, but nearly a decade in the game has also given Pharoahe an advantage on knowing the game of the beast, or industry, as rhyme mortals would say. This time around Pharoahe doesn't just make a dope album, he constructs one. He chooses guest that truly compliment tracks. This ideology is exemplified best on the rough, adreneline filled "No Mercy" featuring the always rugged, raw stylings of M.O.P. Common and the always hungry Talib Kweli also make worthy contributions to the insightful track "The Truth". He's also consistent in drawing the line between commercial, undergound, and just plain enjoyable. Internal Affairs stumbles only when Pharoahe strays too far one way. The Organized Konfusion reunion, "God Send" is too slumber to match the sonic power of the rest of the album, while the Busta Rhymes fused "The Next S#$t" sounds like filler. But the positive far outweigh the negative. Internal Affairs is a groundbreaking solo effort that is sure to keep heads noddin' well into the new millenium."

HOT album, one of the best of 99

J. Storm | The Abyss | 05/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Organized Konfusion is not only the group Pharoahe Monch is in, but it also describes his style. His wickedly twisted flow and lyrics might not appeal at first listen, but after repeated listens it grows on you. The head-nodding, self-produced, ever popular first single "Simon Says" is just a sampling of Pharoahe's creativeness. He produced five of his own tracks on here, another of which is "Behind Closed Doors," a raw, bangin track. On the Alchemist-produced "No Mercy," M.O.P. and Monch combine for a hyped-up energy overdose, definitely destined to satisfy the listener (and wake up the neighbors). And he ends the album with an all-star line-up on the "Simon Says" remix, featuring the likes of Red & Meth, Busta Rhymes, & more. Overall, this album is full of rawness. Maybe not a classic, but since 4.5 is not an option, I've rounded up. Either way, this album is bangin, definitely a worthy buy."