Music Review

Blue Collar (2006)

Blue Collar
Reviewed by Michael Endelman | Jul 07, 2006
EW's GRADE
B+

Details Release Date: Jul 11, 2006; Lead Performance: Blue Collar; Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap

This Chicago rapper has a Grammy (for co-writing Kanye West's ''Jesus Walks'') and once beat Eminem in an MC battle, but outside of the underground, he's a virtual unknown. Rhymefest's impressive debut should expand his fan base, especially among Gen-Xers nostalgic for the warm-hearted vibe of prebling-era rap. On Blue Collar, the gregarious MC spits underdog narratives (''All I Do'') and gut-busting punchlines over soul-drenched beats produced by Kanye, Just Blaze, and Mark Ronson, who gets props for the Strokes sample on ''Devil's Pie.''

Originally posted Jul 07, 2006 Published in issue #886 Jul 14, 2006 Order article reprints

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