Young Black and Gifted---P.M.S. (Passion Music Soul)

Young Black and Gifted-P.M.S.--(2013)

Artist: Young Black and Gifted (Kidd Called Quest and Golden)

Album: P.M.S. (Passion Music Soul)

Label: Independent           

Producers: Kidd Called Quest

It’s hard to find musical chemistry between two artists. In this case, the duo Young Black and Gifted is a clever group consists of producer Kidd Called Quest and emcee Golden. The past few months, Golden has a consistent flow that put many emcees to shame. Calling her another female emcee is an understatement; she sends male emcees to redo their verses. Her lyrical cadence is top notch but highly slept on. Producer Kidd Called Quest puts out consistent boom bap production beats with versatility. Straight from the 585, Young Black and Gifted brought out a clever innovative product which no other producer has made: one female emcee, one male producer and no guest appearances. Their latest opus P.M.S.(Passion Music Soul) will have heads curious to listen.

This album starts off with fitting the theme of the album. You can hear the passion over a soul influenced sample on the intro that fits well. Golden starts off with her lyrical fire on “Snap” where she gets it in over the guitar infused beats and high energized high hats. Listening to this track proves that producer Kidd Called Quest knows how to place the high hats perfectly with the beat. The musical chemistry between Kidd Called Quest and Golden is phenomenal throughout the album especially on tracks like “Soul for Sale” where Golden exposes the commercial rappers that sell out and the soulful inspired beat “Ready for Me”. Golden brings in the lyrics and kicks it fiercely on the smooth laid back “Critics” where she takes it to the haters: watching from the sideline, emotions are in stable/pitch me bounty hunting see me moving like I’m D’Jango. Continuing the album brings Kidd Called Quest creativity with the beats. He lace a perfect 70’s Blaxploitation beat for “Roc City” that blends well with Golden’s voice while “Tough Love” changes the mood for Golden to spit about broken hearts and relationships. The album ends will with “All I Know” where Golden shines some new light into her lyrics.

Embracing this album is a must since the musical chemistry is better than most duos. The eleven track album consists of hard lyrics and top notch production from the 585. Production wise, this project introduces a new trend on how successful a male producer works with a female emcee. Golden hits you with some witty wordplay and punch lines such as “Roc City” city looking at me through the summer, beautiful, blitz to midtown because we cut it to the cuticle. Or on the finger snapping “1 Life to Live” Golden flexes the lyrical muscle: say what you suppose to say/I’m gonna show em off, cali swag like an Oakland A. Or  on “Critics” the way my pen flips this is lyrical Olympics or spare me with your change you can keep your two cents, verbally I’m ruthless, snapping like a gator or focus on my dreams I need my mule and 40 acres; these lyrics will have heads snapping their necks saying damn she got bars. With powerful bee stinging lyrics and head nodding production, this is the right direction for Young Black and Gifted. Stepping out of the box and it worked to their advantage, you will see another project from Young Black and Gifted.

            Strong Tracks: “Snap”, “Roc City”, “Soul for Sale”, “Tough Love”, “Critics”, “Ready for Me”, “All I Know”

            Rating: out of

Go cop and download the album from Young Black and Gifted at Bandcamp, A MUST HAVE!!!