Now or Never

From the Old School to the New:
NOW OR NEVER 21C-B-Boyz 21st. Century Blues Records, LLC, 2004 ASIN: B0001IXTX6 Audio CD Old and new styles collide in this sizzling collaboration between Kipori "Baby Wolf" Woods and rapper MYSELF on Chris Thomas King's 21st. Century Blues Records label. Tracks run the gauntlet from easy rocking love songs like "Get Wit U" to the smoking "Celestial Body," and the politically astute "41 Bullets." The sweet Delta sounds of Woods' guitar and vocals and the edgy rap lyrics of MYSELF fuse with unexpected ease on songs like Son House's "Death Letter Blues," the only cover included on the album, to deepen and enrich the impact of the selections. Producer Chris Thomas King, a Grammy-winning musician and innovator of rap/blues, wrote or co-wrote eight of the eleven songs on the collection. He plays on most of the songs and is featured on two of them, "She's a Dogcatcher" and the traditional "Roc Yo Daddy." Kipori Woods, grandson of respected blues musician "Luscious" Lloyd Lambert, is one of the youngest and brightest new talents on the New Orleans' blues scene. His previous CDs include BLUES MAN FROM DOWN SOUTH, 1999, and BIG BLACK CADILLAC, 2000. MYSELF, a well-known spoken word artist, has been writing poetry since age twelve. His previous CD, recorded in Brooklyn, is entitled REBEL SOULJAH. Powerful selections and excellent arrangement and production values combine to highlight the talents of these gifted artists in this groundbreaking compilation. Purists take heed: this is not your daddy's blues. It is, however, a thoroughly satisfying album that successfully blends traditional blues and rap in a compelling new sound that marks the evolution of the blues genre. NOW OR NEVER is a masterpiece. -- Shannon Riley