Rock Paper Scissors - A Filial, $1,99 (Verge Records)

South America is a country rich in natural resources, cultural independence and crooked politicians. It (more so than probably any other country on the planet) has the best reason to produce the richest music. Though the many cultures of South America have a historical and varied music palette all their own, adopting the civil liberties and past times of other countries has evolved from childhood recess to big business. Take hip hop, America’s crown of the African-American king. Its influence has traveled the globe over twice and has produced many incarnations. While all of them the world over are dancing to the beat of a different cool, among them quietest to its American mother ship is the burgeoning scene of the South American hip hop movement. Two of the most famous Brazilian cities, Rio De Janiero, coupled with Sao Paolo, are riddled with its seeds of the working class indulging in hip hop. Though the origins of team players are derived from different sources for different reasons, time and economics are the major factors in the talk soup of hip. Off the heels of the compilation ‘The inspiring new sounds of Rio de Janeiro’, five-piece A filial return with the release their first US album 1,99, December 2, on Verge records.

The title ‘1,99,’ is a nod to the idea of common accessibility for everyone. The record is homage to the everyday sounds of hip hop pioneers Beastie Boys and NWA. While the music and chorus rolls along to familiar South American inspired patterns the ignorant clods of American culture has come to recognize, the rhythms and drums remains distinctly hip hop. For those not affluent with the South American genres of music, according to the label the flavor of the record is largely touted to show Brazilian roots coupled with fifties beats and mixed with elements of samba and jazz. The result is an attitude that is feisty without being obnoxious, tasteful without being over indulgent. And though the album is spoken in Portuguese, the language barrier is broken by the creativity and the panache of the albums presentation.

From beginning to end 1,99 takes you on an odyssey of ideas that have long been unearthed. You remember them, the days when hip hop was called rap, and there was no such mention of agile homicides or inflammatory female hypothetical’s. Well welcome back to the good old days, Brazilian style. The group’s happy go lucky mouthpiece is accompanied by spoke word anecdotes to accompany. On’ Judy does Judo’, A Filial salutes the feist in everyday objects. The love is further ridden on ‘Brown Sueter’, a classic hip hop number decorated with a cops and robbers motif. The rest of the album is just what you’d expect from a foreign act’s take on an American genre, an eclectic and passionate outing that is only as good as its word to a new ear. So what’s the hold up, A filial are waiting. Better get to it then.

By: Paul Lessane

A Filial: 1,99