Me Phi Me’s poetics

E PHI Me takes the hip from the hop, the roll from
the rock and the rhythm from the blues to make

One;
finds beauty in the ballad.
Me Phi Me — One, BMG
Music 1992

The sound is tagged ‘‘big-beat
poetry’ by Me Phi'Me, a 21-
year-old black man from Flint.
Michigan. The sound he makes is
big and the message is potent.

Me Phi Me tempers the musical
language of hip hop with acoustic
guitars. It’s a strikingly effective
combination.

He avoids the anger and aggres-
sion often associated with rap and
instead chooses to use the medi-
umv'to present an essential, life-
affirmative perspective. The up-
shot: deadly grooves and very pos-
itive vibes.

He talks a lot about the primacy
of self-respect as a necessary
foundation far individuality.

"Think about the paths you
take. How will you leave your
mark? Where will you finish? Or
did you even start? Don’t just exist
living in a mass of confusion. Do-
nothings perpetrate the problems.
We need solutions. Flowers bloom
worldwide. They spread their
beauty. So open your petals, this is
your duty. So to one and all, real-
ize we are all kings and queens. So
stand for something or you'll fall
for anything.” -

Well said, bro!

The Unforgettable Nat King

Nat King Cole is not torgotten; Elton John

RECORD REVIEW

Cole, EM! Records 1991

Nat’s daughter re-energized her
moribund musical career by con-
juring the ghost of her papa.

EMI brings him back with a 20-
song compilation of hits culled
from the period 1953-1963.

Lots of biggies here: Ramblin’
Rose, Dance Ballerina Dance,
Mona Lisa, Those Lazy Hazy Crazy
Days of Summer (political-
ly-correctly speaking, ‘““Those
Motivationally Dispossessed,
Visibility-Reduced, Emotionally
Challenged Days Of Summer’’}.

Heavy-handed orchestration
debases in places. The warm
smoky tones of Cole’s comfortable
voice are the attraction after all.

For my money you can catch
Cole at his best if you tap into his
output from the 1940s, when he
played jump-up jive with a cook-
ing trio.

WESTERN BOOTS
DRESS & CASUAL SHOES

Elton john — The One, MCA
1992 ;

Yes there is life after the box-set.
The E-man and his lyricalty-sus-
taining counterpoint Taupin (he’s
dropped the base Bernie prefix)
pops us some more good stuff
worth listening to. .

Where The One lacks discer-
nable epic flash, its appeal is to be
found in an impressive consistency
— call it a mature evenness
despite the ridiculously boyish wig
John has chosen to top his barren
pate with.

E.j. lacks on to the Philadelphia
groove and side-trips into gospel
territory along the way.

But ballads define this one.

The title track, built upon a

. music-box-like circular piano

phrase, is an insidiousty effective
bit of lovey-dovey smooch
ngering. The guy truly makes it
tough to be hard-hearted.
John’s long-time pals Eric Clap-
ton and Kiki Dee join as guest
musicians.

" Photo submitted

21-YEAR-OLD Me Phi Me mixes hip hop with acoustic guitars for

a strikingly effective combination.

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