Evidence's Sophomore Album An Exemplary Portrayal of Urban Struggle

It doesn't seem as though mainstream rappers have truly come to grips with the worldwide economic recession. At best, rappers like Young Jeezy and Nas acknowledge the recession, without really saying much about it. At worst, rappers like Lil Wayne and Jay-z ignore it outright, while laughing about how their own economic problems are solved for good. There's nothing wrong about a little luxury rap, but too much of it at a time like this is noxious.

 If the mainstream industry has failed to recognize the increasing pressures of the financial panic, the underground rap industry has been buzzing with smart, insightful commentary on poverty and survival. From E-40 to Beanie Siegel, tough-as-nails street rappers have grown to exemplify these troubled times. In his newest album "Cats and Dogs," former Dilated Peoples member Evidence proves that he too is an effective foil for the crushing grip of poverty. His cutting rhymes and deeply soulful beats speak to more people then just those in destitution.

As the title would suggest, there's a running storm metaphor throughout Evidence's sophomore album. This is appropriate, as most of "Cats and Dogs" tries to cultivate the tense, humid atmosphere of a coming storm. Producer's Alchemist, DJ Premier, and Sid Roams provide deep, rich soulful beats that loop and build over time. As the tempo rises in "Crash," "To Be Continued," and "The Epilogue," the pressure builds to a near suffocating level. When the record falters, it's usually because the producers lost focus and allowed a little bit of light to shine through. There really isn't much use for the cheesy "Late For the Sky" or the watered down soul of "Fame."

Still, even these weaker moments are at least partially saved by Evidence's rapping. He's such a technically skilled rapper that it's easy to forget he is actually saying things. Throughout "Cats and Dogs," Evidence continually offers defenses of his decision to stay an underground rapper. On "It Wasn't Me" he raps "I never thought about fame/ I only thought if KRS would know my name." And this is a poignant summary of Evidence's argument for staying underground; he doesn't want to lose touch. 

When Evidence proclaims himself famous, such as on "Red Carpet" and even "Late for the Sky" he is not talking about normal super-stardom. His line "Lift your head out of the clouds/get lost like the rest of the crowd" on "Sky" may be a bit cheesy, but it is apt. For Evidence, true fame is self-definition. And on "Cats and Dogs" Evidence has transformed himself into the embodiment of poignant struggle. 

Charles Mahoney is arts editor. Email him at cmahoney@nyunews.com