Album review of local duo Pro & Reg's 'Life of A Vagabond'

 

The hip hop scene is an integral part of the music that Baltimore has to offer, so I'm doing my best to keep everyone informed about the genre's latest happenings.  My first step in this direction is a review of the album, "Life of A Vagabond" by local artists Proton & Regulus (aka Pro & Reg), co-produced by DJ Addikt.

The duo boasts a 90's-inspired hip hop style, citing rock, punk, and krunk influences.  Their latest album is a true testament to this stylistic versatility, as a wide array of instrumentation and beats provides listeners with a diverse musical experience from start to finish.  Their tracks cover some serious ground, ranging from the overtly serious to the lighthearted (as evidenced by the titles "Corruption" and "Loly Gag").  On 'Vagabond,' the scales ultimately tip in favor of seriousness, however, as Pro & Reg have a compositional style that frequently relies on driving beats, minor tonalities, and the occasional help of a string section to achieve its full effect.  The album's production value is fantastic, so much so that even if the duo's lyrics are sometimes not serious in content, the listener is still compelled to take their words seriously.  And fortunately, Pro & Reg both seem to have something meaningful and positive to say.

For example, the song  "Corruption" expresses thoughts on the war in Iraq, the shortcomings of modern politics, and the influence of big business on society.  It is accompanied, simply enough, by a melancholy violin, a piano, and a drum beat.  In stark stylistic contrast, the song "Hey" exudes an old-school flair, with an optimistic tenor and a cheerful horn section in the background.  The lyrics, "Im'ma hold my own, do my thing and keep my head up, even though this life feels like a setup," are a good indicator of the consistently positive message that characterizes the majority of 'Vagabond.'

Other songs worthy of merit include the intensely pro-active "Game Day" which is driven by complex vocal rhythms over a simple but satisfying bass loop.  "The Chase" is appropriately titled, and could easily be used in a movie soundtrack if it played over some sort of montage sequence (Rocky XII – where perhaps Rocky is forced to fight his own, long-lost abusive father in an attempt to finally put to rest the demons of his past – I'm looking in your direction).  But seriously, it's a good track, and acts as a great exemplification of the intensity that appears on and off throughout the album.  "Death Blow," "Howl at the Moon," "You're All I have," and the triumphant-sounding "Family" also fit this mold, drawing the listener in with a unique blend of lyrical craftsmanship and musicality.

If you're a fan of the genre, I would definitely recommend looking into "Life of A Vagabond."  It's a very well done album, and if I had the necessary vocal talents, I would definitely be singing along with some of its tracks by now.  Unfortunately, I'm what doctors call "slow-in-the-mouth," so I can only sing along with the occasional moderately-paced chorus.  As a side note, Pro & Reg also put on a very solid live show, as I learned last Friday at Sonar.  But, I'm forced to file the same complaint as always when I say that the sound guy needed to turn up their vocals.  Especially in hip hop, where lyrics give a song 90% of its character, an inability to make out what a performer is saying is just a drag.  Come on Baltimore sound technicians!  Step it up!