Hijack, The Horns Of Jericho

Best UK hip-hop album ever. Even after 15 years it still sounds amazing. This is a must-hear album.

The absolute kings of hip hop with Dj Undercover the fastest and most originally creative hands lyrics and ideas, plus Kamanchi slys deadly quick fire delivery! They albums will still blow away what people are trying to do today.

Hijack rode the initial wave of interest the British Rap scene enjoyed from it's American cousin's in 1990. Their second single 'Hold No Hostage', had battered European turntable's since it's release the previous year and had quickly become an underground classic.

At a time when the UK Hip Hop sound was demanding to be heard, the West-Coast of the United States began to listen and pretty-soon the Brixton group were signed to Ice-T's label: Rhyme Syndicate Records.

Released at the beginning of 91', ' The Horns Of Jericho' is a no-nonsense malais of sounds and voices, Beats and Breaks and Cartoon villainy.

Controlling label, Warner were nervous at the prospect of a six-man UK Rap group and the album was never released in the United States (although it sold well there on import).

The voices of emcee's Kamanchi Sly, Ulysses, Fritz and Clueso are sometimes almost parodies of themselves, displaying a definite love for the tongue-in-cheek. Hijack were often criticised for their faux-American accents that some felt was a betrayal of the whole Hip Hop ethos, but one must note the concious decision by Hijack to add a US twang to their voices. This album was intended to break them in the States and I have no doubt that had it been released there, it would have become massive.

The 13 tracks it contains have become classics of Hip Hop despite it's poor handling oversees, and it has been sampled by everyone from The Prodigy to Aphex Twin over the years.

From it's 'Hammer Horror' intro, to it's 'Funkjazz-Loungerap' finale, this album is indeed an aural treat. With production from DJ Supreme and DJ Undercover being excellently executed throughout, the listener can't help but notice that it's the emcee's who occasionally let the standard slip. The lyrics provide some epic quotes for the crate-digging crews to re-use, and listening to this album is like a sample-spotters paradise. This may not be enough rhyme-spitting nourishment for many of us though , and in 2007 it often sounds like the emcees needed more time to hone their writing skills.

Musically the LP is a shining example of what Hip Hop is capable of, veering from the harsh and punchy ( 'Airwave Hijack (part 1)' ), to the ridiculously cheesy ( 'Daddy Rich (parts 1&2)' ).

This may be a body of work for the avid Hip Hop headz, but it's familiar, lyrical sound (thanks to the aforementioned sampling-frenzy that fed-off it for the next ten years) will make it a worthwhile venture for the casual listener also.

Sadly the potential of the South-London, sextet was never realised and they disbanded soon after the release of their one and only long player (having been unceremoniously, dropped by Warner & Rhyme Syndicate).

' The Horns Of Jericho'then, complete with it's gas-mask, wearing posturing on the front cover (provided by legendary Rap photographer Glen E. Friedman) is a work of genius and ludicrous at the same time. Good value for your money if it's something you want to discover, but a trifle tricky to comprehend or even entertain if it's not!