Chocolate supa highway

Spearhead
  1. Africa On Line
  2. Chocolate Supa Highway
  3. Keep me lifted
  4. Food for tha masses
  5. U can't sing R song
  6. Tha Payroll
  7. Madness in tha hood (Free ride)
  8. Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock)
  9. Why oh why
  10. Comin' to gitcha
  11. Life Sentence
  12. Ganja Babe
  13. Wayfarin' Stranger
  14. Gas Gauge (Tha world's in your hands)
  15. Water Pistol Man (Chocolate mix)
Ben says:  Michael Franti is a guy I've been following for a while now. The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, while being a stupid name, did at least come up with some seminal anti-establishment songs like Television - Drug of the nation and WaterPistol Man (repeated on this album in a very mellow mix). So when I bought this CD, I was expecting a similar mix of stuff, like a black version of Consolidated maybe. Instead what i got was actually far better on repeated listenings.

Chocolate supa highway is a splendid album which retains some of the social angst and storytelling that Franti is well-known for, particularly in songs like Why oh why and Gas Gauge (the finest song I have heard this year), but in a much mellower, groovier manner. The album also has far more references to a certain naughty weed, which I don't really recall from earlier "harder core" albums, but I'm glad he's enjoying himself at last.

Special guests on this album are Steven Marley doing vocals for Rebel Music (and other songs) and sounding just like his dad, no bad thing, and Beth Orton doing vocals for Wayfarin' Stranger, a song more country than hip hop. But the main benefit of this album is its subversive nature. Because it's quite mellow you can play it in front of people who would turn away from TDHOH and they'll get into the groove. Only after they've listened to it for a bit will they realise that (shock, horror!) they've been listening to a CD full of politics, by which time it's too late and they'll go out and get a tattoo that says "fuck da po-lice" or something similar. Hmm, well, maybe not.

Anyroadup, cracking album.
Ben gives it:yay!yay!yay!yay!yay!

mail me!back last updated: 12th April 1997