As Death Cab for Cutie becomes the mainstream poster boy for indie rock, groups like Dilated Peoples and Atmosphere have become the indie hip hop equivalent. Afterthought seems to ride the line between the mainstream and indie hip-hop sound, wearing the backpack with one strap on, one off, and a drink in his hand.
Take It or Leave It is a mixtape of eleven solo songs from relatively unknown Southern Comfort Clique member, Afterthought. The production ranges from beats by Erick Sermon, Dilated Peoples, Soul Position to Lowercase, Afterthought's Canadian counterpart in Break of Dawn. With the exception of 'Music' by Sermon on 'For the Drunks', the beats Lowercase donated are by far my favorite, the highlight being 'Portrait' the most effectual beat (and song) on the mixtape.
Afterthought moves through these songs resembling a younger east coast version of Slug, who came upon a collection of Westcoast mixtapes. At times the songs are braggadocio and brash, falling into a poor man's version of a mainstream emcee (i.e. 'The Way' and 'This Is True'). What he lacks in content in isolated incidents, he makes up for in an ebullition of self loathing and a sense of provocation that form the catharsis he writes for. On songs like 'Just A Piece' and 'Reach Out', Afterthought is quick to admit 'It's hard to breath knowing me and myself haven't come to making mends / I feel I'm slipping again / I try in vain to remain staying sane / while I'm living in sin'.
Afterthought's flow is even for the most part, although he does experiment with it on 'Radio Dial', riffling off three unique flows, the last of which, and most impressive, is a cadence akin to members of Freestyle Fellowship. His voice although nasal at times, could be dubbed into any Benefit song without the listener ever knowing the difference, the inflection on his words a mixture of the mid-Atlantic and not-so-dirty south.
The mixtape flows in directions both east and west. While some tracks leave you ready to take shots of 151, others resonate a pain that Afterthought might be walking on eggshells. 'Portrait,' the oldest song on the mixtape (recorded c. 2003), brings us raw emotion, superb lyrical content, and top-notch production. It is by far my favorite song on the mixtape for the sole fact that it shows the potential Afterthought truly has.
As a whole Take It or Leave It leaves you wanting to hear how Afterthought would fair on a true full-length over consistent production, and with a continuity of thematic elements. As a mixtape though Take It or Leave It gives us a very broad look at Afterthought's skills, which, if focused could execute a fantastic full-length.
