Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I’ve never claimed to be an expert on the Rap/Hip Hop genre, but I know a future star when I see one. RedCloud is a future star. Combining extremely intense and impressive lyrics with some of the best and most original beats I have heard in awhile, RedCloud shows his immense skills in his most recent release, Hawthorne’s Most Wanted. His past failures and future goals alike are plotted out in this record, and RedCloud shows why he is one of the more influential underground rappers out there today.

The disc is littered with great songs, but three in particular stand out. Taputio is very catchy and, believe it or not, shows shades of hip hop great Eminem. I know that is high praise to put on a relatively unknown young rapper, but RedCloud definitely shows some of the same God-given talents Marshall Mathers has in the past. Welcome All boasts one of the best beats I have heard in years, and it’ll definitely get you hooked on this record from the beginning. The Boombox Saints is all over the place, but it has some hilarious lyrics and even a Hulk Hogan promo at the end, which makes the song even more enjoyable.

Like most Hip Hop albums, however, you’ll need to listen to this disc multiple times to catch the meaning and content of all of the songs. That there is some meaning and content to be found is what makes this disc so repeatable. The ability to listen to an album over and over is a key factor in determining its goodness.

As a Mexican-American Indian, RedCloud definitely has a lot to live up to. His name, taken from a famous 19th Century American Indian chief, shows that he will never forget his roots, and that he is true to his heritage. As a matter of fact, in the song Little Big Horn, RedCloud talks about the oppression of his people that has lasted for generations.

RedCloud has been labeled in the past as a Christian rapper, but his songs aren’t exclusively Christian. Like most rappers, he raps about what he knows. Thus, the topics of his songs range from his Indian and Mexican heritage to his love for martial arts to his troubled childhood.

RedCloud is one to look out for. He’ll only get better with time, and my money is on the table saying that he’ll be a big name before long.