Album Review

Vast Aire – Ox 2010: A Straight Odyssey

• 25th May 2011

Hailing from the absolute blazing hotbed of talent that is Jamaica Queens, New York, rapper Vast Aire is bringing the neighbourhood’s music back to its roots, with a futuristic version of ol’ skool rap.

With his positive message wrapped up within incredible scenarios and tinted with a gangsta edge, Aire is bringing back the type of real hip-hop music that Jamaica Queens rap was founded on.

While the likes of Nicki Minaj, 50Cent and Ja Rule have made modern day Jamaica Queens rap music part of all the hip-pop phenomenon that is currently engulfing what real hip-hop is, Vast Aire is part of the dying breed of rappers (along with Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch) from the suburb that are still keeping hip-hop real.

From the opening song on the album hip-hop fans will be able to hear the Run DMC (the original Jamaica Queens rap-stars) influence that Vast Aire has, testament to the inspiration that the group must have been to its younger Queens residents. However, do not think that Street Odyssey is anything even close to a show of homage to the style of rap favoured by the likes of Run DMC, Talib Kweli or indeed any other rapper in the history of the genre; Vast Aire is definitely imcomparable.

“They say ‘Vast you’re a funny guy’, why? Because I rhyme outside the mould” – is a line from the excellent Nomad and it is true, Aire does rhyme outside the mould. In a few lines he can go from smoking hash to robbing a bank to discussing God. This is not story telling rap, it is sporadic rapid-fire rap that goes ever nearly every subject that could be relevant to man. At times it can sound nonsensical but nevertheless, this is all part of Vast Aire’s charm. The constant ear pricking punch-lines (“By the count of five they all gotta die…”) combined with his superb flow make every song on this album listenable.

This is the first album from Aire since he signed a two album deal with Man Bites Dog Records and he has gone far out with his premise, using Stanley Kubrick’s film ‘A Space Odyssey’ as a theme. This is why the album is heavy on the electro vibes, mixing with the heavy bass and slow drum rhythms that other Queens rappers (such as Nas) favour. This theme, although far from what most rap fans would be used to hearing, makes for some excellent beats.

It is a credit to Aire’s vision that he managed to keep within a theme whilst using nine different producers on this album. Along with the large amount of producers, Vast Aire has also gone all out with the guest appearances, recruiting some of hip-hop’s best underground rappers (such as Karniege) along with some true heavyweight names (like Raekwon) to make sure this album has a lasting impact.

Standout songs on the album are Nomad, 2090, Thor’s Hammer and Spy vs Spy, with each of these representing what is good about Street Odyssey. There are anthems that were made to be blasted out at full volume (Nomad), there are pure rap thesis’ (Thor’s Hammer) and there are dark, soulful tracks the ask questions of our psyche (such as Spy vs Spy). What makes the album standout though are tracks like 2090; a futuristic take on ol’ skool hip-hop, when rappers just wanted to out-do one and another with their word play. Vast Aire does this but in a way that has not been done before.
Part futuristic sci-fi thriller and part message to the masses, Street Odyssey is a banger of a hip-hop album, full of bumping bass, raw rhymes and all completed together in a slick style of production that make this one of the best rap albums of 2011.