Rahzel - "4 Elements". Don't call it a comb-over; he's been here for years. Rahzel, the "Godfather of Noyse" is bringing his skillz back to the ring in a new comp. No, not the Greatest Hits but Rahzel's Greatest Knockouts. Greatest hits comps are too often seen as a last-ditch effort to sweep up the remains of a once-great career and hopefully make enough money to pay the lawyer's fees and keep the condo in Malibu one more year. Occasionally, though, there'll come a collection that has showcases some severe talent, some smart editing, and a nice metaphorical ribbon with which to wrap it all up.

Rahzel is probably best known as a member of the [cutting edge?] live hip-hop band, The Roots. He's had cameo appearances on a slough of artists' records—from rap to rock to electronica—and can be seen endorsing Twix [who wouldn't?]. All this for the undisputed beatbox champion of the world? Why, yes! Hearken to "4 Elements." Rahzel is a virtuoso of vocal percussion, with nuanced textures, terraced dynamics, and layering of his own melody over his own beats… Oh, you don't believe me? Perhaps you've been dead for the past four years. You're not a mp3 swapper until you've heard Rahzel live, performing

the beat
and the chorus
AT THE SAME TIME.
[Download "If Your Mother Only Knew" here]

You still don't think he doin' dat shit? Y'all think there's some other shit goin' on? Well, prepare to insert your limited-edition Jordans in your gold-plated mouth. Rahzel, among other beatboxers, is featured heavily on Björk's forthcoming Medúlla. And I don't care if you're tired of hearing about Björk. I could do a whole umbrella mp3 weblog about her and her collaborators alone. It's not for nothing that the music critic for the New Yorker called me an "expert Björk fan." I bet he'd be interested to learn that I'm engaged indefinitely to sing with all of Seattle Opera's productions, beginning with Lohengrin, which opens next week [drop me a line, Alex. I can give you the scoop before the poop drops!].

This week, I'll be doing another sort of Medúlla spin-off when I'll be taking a look at mouth-music makers. Tongue-twisters, beatboxers, and throat singers. And don't think for a second that I'm going to forget about Michael Winslow!