Search - Spearhead :: Chocolate Supa Highway

Heavy Medicine

C. Rocklein | 05/20/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Home" blew me away and I picked up Supa Hwy a few years later in 1998. At the time I didn't think it was as good as Home, but I still liked it and it did cause awe in me. Looking back, if I was gonna compare, I'd say it's angrier, and STONIER, than Home. But in spite of the fact, or maybe because of the fact, that this whole album is in a ganga induced haze (or clarity), the clever melodic rhymes, good beats and deep groove are still more or less always present. Seems to be coming from a deeper place than the usual hip-hop fare - and it's not just rap anyway, although that's a major force, but some of the songs got this real authentic, slinky '70s soul sound. Looking back on it now, I'd say his second album Chocolate Supa Hwy was his second best, though I probably listen to this one more. Maybe Franti was more of a rocker at this time as opposed to political activist although you could argue Franti's lyrics have always been 'activist', just that in the first 2 albums politics (but not social commentary) still seemed to take back-seat to the party and the mood and the groove.. and maybe the ganga. This album's got a spiritual vibe; at the same time I'd say it's the darkest album in the Spearhead discography. Spearhead is still shootin from the hip in this second album; if you liked the first, this one should be a very pleasant discovery. I wouldn't say that for everything that came after this one, but Chocolate Supa HWY is still classic Spearhead.



""Swing low... sweet cadillac..""