May 24–31, 2001

cd reviews|hip-hop

The Crooked Man

There Was A Crooked Man

(DEA Records)

Malvern, PA’s own Crooked Man, a.k.a. TRIC (Total Rhyme Incarceration), is a relentless lyricist who comes across as a hybrid of old school block-rocking MC and ruthless crime rhymer. Possessing ample skills that ride out over eerie beats, Crooked Man’s style effects a horror film aesthetic worthy of Sleepy Hollow and The Blair Witch Project. This visceral tone is achieved through grainy production provided by Carl Kavorkian, Bazooka Joe and Kah Meeleon. Some of the beatscapes call to mind the work of the Ruff Ryders’ in-house production staff (Swizz Beats and Irv Gotti). Overall, this is grungy, stick-to-your ribs rap music, unflinching in its street life portrayals. Tracks like "AKA," "Shadow" and "One Way Ticket" are a few of the standouts. The frequency here rarely deviates from the deep, dark side but for a taste of the rugged Philadelphia underground scene, The Crooked Man’s debut is on the mark.

—M.F. Di Bella