Release Date: February 10, 2012
When this project fell into my lap, I had never heard of H&T or The Rhythm Thief before, so I had to do some research just to learn about what I was getting myself into. H&T is made up of four members and The Rhythm Thief is a production duo based out of a home studio somewhere in Pittsburgh. Not much else could be found on either group, but they came together to create this short, 5-track EP, and with what I'm assuming was limited resources, I was pleasantly surprised at what I heard.
The opener, "True Grit," pulls you in from the start with it's powerful guitar-based production and gets things rolling with great energy. As far as the rest of the EP is concerned, The Rhythm Thief showcases their versatility in the best way they know how: each song has its own vibe and nothing sounds repetitive (though in only five tracks, it would be disappointing if it did). The highlight comes in the form of "One Step Away," a song with a great message and a fitting instrumental that could stand on its own if need be. It's worth nothing that live instrumentation was used to create these songs, which says something in itself of their dedication.
H&T tries their best to share the load of the lyrics on 5234 Forbes, not an easy task with four members and only five tracks. It seems that the group is comfortable with two sounds: in-your-face, raw tracks and a more laid back, airy vibe, which creates a wonderful balance in the short preview of their talents. On the latter types of songs, the emcees tend to have their lyrics stand out more. The only problem arises when the production seems to overpower their vocals on some of the bolder cuts.
"True Grit" and the bonus track, "Violated," come across as polar opposites of the other three tracks, which sound more smooth and even fantastical at times. "One Step Away," already a standout for production, is only further improved by some rhymes that fit the mood of the song nearly perfectly. It's clear that both of these groups are just getting their feet wet, but they've found a chemistry that could act as a very effective springboard for their music.
If you can relate, give unfamiliar music a chance, as I did.
Download link: 5234 Forbes
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