Slug and Murs “Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet”

Slug and Murs “Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet” Inpress Magazine Review October 2005

Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet Slug and Murs
By Mawuse Ziegbe

Damn you West Coast! Cali always has to shame the rest of the hip hop world by breaking the most fun, weed-fueled, crass music that shoves the boundaries of tasteless hilarity. The irreverent and at times just wrong lyricism of rhyme tag team Slug and Murs demonstrates why underground hip hop is so necessary. Felt 2: A Tribute to Lisa Bonet is chock full of punchy rhymes, laidback grooves and shit you’re not supposed to say out loud.

Slug and Murs’ curious left coast sensibilities shape this funky melodic voyage into diverse Californian hip hop. While the album doesn’t do much for those hoping for hardcore Denise Huxtable appreciation, the chill grooves are great for those reared on smoky soul a la Curtis Mayfield or gritty ol’ skool hip hop like Public Enemy. “Morris Day” is the perfect blend of Superfly-esque violins, buttery flutes and flava with the air of a dimly lit lounge that sells $3 Screwdrivers. “Breaker Down Like A Shotgun” breaks with a slippery bassline over which Ant and Slug subtly proclaim their love of sexual encounters stating ‘I’ll treat every part of your body like an invisible nipple.’ “Dirty Girl” is an amusing ode to those fly girls with “cappuccino fingernails” who drip with sexiness while changing oil or frying up greasy burgers.

Lyrically, the two don’t lean on their outrageous rhymes but show real skill for dropping some hilarious and clever bars. Murs, with his languid flow is responsible for a lot of the clever and dynamic humour. Slug’s energetic style stands out on tracks like “Breaker” or “Gangsta Ass Anthony” where he proclaims, ‘Throw ya hands in the air like you’re happy to have hands.’ The skits appropriately named “Lisa” and “Bonet” amusingly show each rapper annoying their respective girlfriends for our listening pleasure.

Helmed by producer Ant who make up Atmosphere with Slug, Felt is what Kanye would sound like if he didn’t have to worry about all that pop star appeal and radio rotation. Rhyming over wafting funk samples, Slug and Murs revel in the chance to be as dirty, honest, funny and politically incorrect as their deliciously off-the-radar status allows them. Bless them.