Overlooked: Theo3 “Airplane Over One Way Streets” (Album Review) Posted by Dharmic X on 12/11/12 | Filed under Opinion, Album Reviews, Overlooked, Theo3

A Note from Nathan S: So much new music comes out every week I can't possibly keep up with it all, even only the RefinedHype worthy-material. So the homie Dharmic X is going to be shining a spotlight on some dope albums that got "Overlooked".

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Toronto’s hip-hop scene may only be known for a handful of names (Drake, Kardinal Offishall, JD Era, etc.), but within the city is a vibrant community with many talented artists and a fraternity amongst most of them. An example of this is the Freedom Writers crew. While some may be familiar with Tona, the rest of the group consists of producer Big Sproxx and emcees Progress, Frankie Payne, Adam Bomb, and Theo3. Known for their ferocious rhyming ability and for their community activism throughout their city, the Freedom Writers deserve some attention from hip-hop fans across the border.

Last week, Theo3 dropped his debut album, "Airplane Over One Way Streets". Not only is the album title different (Theo seems to be suggesting that this album is his way of examining the struggles, or “one way streets” of the people around him, as if he’s watching from above), this album has to be one of the more unique LPs to drop in 2012. "Airplane Over One Way Streets" is dripping with the type of positivity unheard of in the internet era, without sounding corny or sacrificing lyricism.

The album opener, “Trust,” is a great introduction, and sets the tone for what is expected from the rest of the album. Over a head-nodding beat from the Grammy-nominated Tone Mason, Theo displays his confidence and faith in his abilities, summing it up by declaring, “maybe when hell freeze I’ll stop making these LPs.” The Toronto MC’s conviction is unwavering on this track, which is complemented perfectly by the scratch hook put together by the legendary DJ Eclipse.

Regardless of subject matter, Theo3 tackles it with adept lyrical dexterity. Even on a track like “Flowers in the Sun,” a song about love and previous mistakes, there are quotables aplenty, like “when that hour struck, I could throw that towel but I’d rather gather all of my potential, venture to make eventual strides so I’m essentially better for what I went through.” On “That Ol Rap Ish,” an obvious showcase of Theo’s lyricial prowess, the T. Dot emcee makes the most subtle of Rick Ross references, “You ain’t a mafia consigliere, the only lid he push back is from a litre of that Ben & Jerrys.”

This isn’t just an hour of boom-bap bravado and a lyrical showcase. The soundscapes on "Airplane Over One Way Streets" are subdued and yet rich in their own right. The musicality of the album is enhanced by its various beat interludes embedded throughout, none going over one minute. “I Can See” is a good example of the music’s power on this album. Over a rattling drum beat with added sound effects, Theo encourages people who are struggling for low wages to think beyond their confines and aim for higher goals. The song is lifted to a higher plane with the lush vocals of Ayah, who sings the hook and chips in throughout the record.

The features are mainly vocalists, including Ayah, Tanika Charles, and Andreena Mill; the rap features are limited to fellow Freedom Writers Frankie Payne and Tona, who comes through shining correctly on the standout track “How I Flow part 2,” which could have been just a simple two verse track if it weren’t for the beautiful hook from Andreena Mill. Not only is it devoid of filler features, the album clocks in at less than an hour, making it a fairly concise listening experience.

If there was ever an album that you’ve probably never heard of that is worth checking out, "Airplane Over One Way Streets" is that album. Theo3 presents to the world a body of work that embodies the depth of Toronto’s hip-hop movement.

See Also: Overlooked: Sheek Louch x Ghostface Killah “Wu Block” (Album Review)