26 january 1999

Double Dutch
part 2:

Allee, The Proov.

Well, we still have to wipe off arrears. For the ones who didn't noticed, CMC/Soul Relation dropped another Double Dutch 12". No massive sales but no losses either. Allee, it's The Proov that it makes sense to make 'some' efforts to come to this kind of products. Props are due to René Phillips and Brian Rusby keepin' on doing what they do.

This time they bring forth The Proov. Three guys with a nice slow flow alla Digable Planets and Special Ed but sure they got their own sound. The first cut 'What I'm Not' is a remix of the main song. Strange logic, the original song is the main song so you would say it would come first. The original song is the fattest. Good deep bass and melody line. The song starts off with the lyric: "I'm gonna Rock right now/I'm C-Major I came to get down/I'm not internationally known". Ideal for the DJ's, it is a terrific break to cut up. Flow and lyrics are tight on the beat. The song is about what the rappers are not. Not bragging and boasting of how rich or fat they are just both feets on the ground and rocking easy. "I'm not diplomatic / actions speak louder than words / and that's a static / I'm bugging out without acrobatics". And as a little devil out of a small box: there is DJ TLM delivering the fresh cuts.

The remix of 'What I'm Not' features Skate The Great and Omar Rey. The first verse is for C-Major. Skate takes the second verse. And this old cat, still can drop a great verse: "Only a few kept believing in me / I'm not forgetting you fellas. / And I know that I'm not the most productive rapper on the go. / But I'm not a factory / only human you know / still can drop a flow/but only when I'm feeling that mentality". Omar Rey comes with the most laid back flow of them all. "Why you stressing? /You live your live with no direction". Simple, but very true. It's a massive laid back song.

The other A-side of this Double Dutch release features Allee from Rotterdam, the biggest harbor of the world. With his song '010' the national phone area code of Rotterdam. (International = 10) he tells his story in a raw and sinister atmosphere. And a big compliment for Allee: I didn't notice any irritating curses. His flow is aggressive and his lyrics got criminal state of mind: "I caught ya sniffing my lines." Although brought serious, it's a funny punch line. And some English legend drops by in his song: "I'm cutting heads like Excalibur / caliber unknown". The other 'legend' is E-Life. Who produced this song for his company 'Dead Or E-Life Music'. Apart from the label, the sound tells you it was E behind the board. The typical Vibraphone sound played on a synthesizer is a vibe you can hear also in 'More To Come/Ahead' and 'Stacked With Honors'. What makes it a less good song from Allee is also E-Life, because E-Life took care of the chorus line. He has a strong and already known voice so he overpowers Allee. The same problem Ley Da Natural had with his song 'Mind State' on the first Double Dutch release, which featured Rollarocka from AMO-Lab and Postmen.