Spank Rock
YoYoYo
(Big Dada)
Much of the US and British music press has gone bananas over Baltimore duo Spank Rock - better known as MC Spank Rock (aka Naeem Juwan) and Chris Rockswell (beats and effects). Although it clearly fits into the hip hop niche, this outfit is in a world of its own, which is often neither pleasant nor easy to listen to.
Opener Backroom Betty, as its name implies, has sex on its mind and sets the tone for several tracks of frat-boy-like lyrics, which frankly makes Spank Rock sound like it needs to get laid - urgently.
Now and then, however, the unusual mixture of retro hip hop programmed drumming and percussion, electronic game-like bleeps, reverb and rapping non-dependent on cursing, comes together as inspired.