PEP LOVE
Ascension (Hieroglyphics Imperium)
Reviewed by Jason Thornberry

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This Hiero soldier finally gets his chance to shine on his own. With the kinds of standards having Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Souls of Mischief puts on your label you know Ascension was under the quality control microscope in Oakland. After gracing so many other albums Pep unravels his pedigree, and opens Ascension with a choice sample from the movie Deep Cover. The album begins with Grime and Grit, and stays on the up note that most albums (regardless of the style) have a fairly difficult time maintaining. It seems like so many hours get spent demo-ing and re-re-re-recording the first couple of tracks on some cds that by, say, song number five you’re head is only nodding because you’re falling asleep on the couch. How much of your cd collection is made up of stuff you’ve only ever heard part of? There are so few complete albums in existence not because the public has trouble listening to it all in one sitting (although double discs can pose that problem), but because the artist didn’t flesh the damn songs out enough and make the whole record congeal. Not a problem with Ascension. From the early scenes (especially "What You Are") to the closer "Black People (Melanin Magnificent)," Pep Love keeps it tight, and makes me wanna hear more. Right now!

© 2001 - Jason Thornberry