While Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo were busy making Britney a "Slave" for us, helping Justin dethrone Michael as the new King of Pop, and rolling out Jay-Z's second "Blueprint," they were also releasing their own music. One disc in the form of The Neptunes' hugely popular 2003 release, "The Clones," and the other of N.E.R.D.'s debut, "In Search Of..."
But don't be fooled by the thought of three young men whose previous work kept within the confines of pop and hip-hop. N.E.R.D.'s latest release, "Fly or Die," is first and foremost, a rock album.
Behind the urban beats of most of the 12 tracks lies a die-hard rock sensibility. "Fly or Die's" soul may by Jay-Z, but its heart is undeniably The Strokes.
"She Wants To Move" made a much-talked-about debut when the band performed it on Saturday Night Live last month, and soon after, its Santana-inspired beats could be heard backing almost every MTV Spring Break commercial. Its beat is undeniably hip-hop - down to the inexplicably haphazard melody - while its rhythm section hints at Santana's tribal rock.
The other song performed on SNL, "Maybe," is as emo as hip-hop can get, with a sweetly harmonized chorus that is driven by the beat of an army drill team. Had "Maybe" been written by any other band, it might have been a really bad Aerosmith song. But thankfully, it gets N.E.R.D.'s royal multi-genre treatment. (Its bridge is even laced with an Earth, Wind and Fire-style soul jazz.)
The best tracks on the disc are those that don't venture too far from their emo-rock roots. "Jump," "Backseat Love" and "Breakout," as well as the title track, are sweet reminders of how funky - and awesome - emo-rock can be when produced by the right people.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
