Audio By Carbonatix
To close out the year, Crossfade is picking out its favorite albums by 305 artists. Read the full list of Miami’s Best Albums of 2010 here.
ArtOfficial
The Payback
(Self-Released)
When news happens, Miami New Times is there —
Your support strengthens our coverage.
We’re aiming to raise $30,000 by December 31, so we can continue covering what matters most to you. If Miami New Times matters to you, please take action and contribute today, so when news happens, our reporters can be there.
Ahhh, the cover song.
Sure, bands can master one or two tracks by a legendary counterpart. But putting together an entire album seems like it might be a bit too daunting for most, even local hip-hop greats ArtOfficial.
Skeptical to say the least, we drank in each track slowly, absorbed each piano key, smooth saxophone toot, and each heavy-spittin’ rhyme wanting more.
From instrumental recreations of classic cuts by Led Zeppelin (“The Ocean” and “Black Dog”) and Jimi Hendrix (“Voodoo Child,”) to the Beatles (“Happiness is a Warm Gun”), the ArtOfficial crew leaves pretty much no musical stone unturned and no foot untapped.
The result? A killer covers album that turns even Radiohead’s “Talk Show Host” into a funky, jazz-driven hip-hop and R&B anthem.
Download: ArtOfficial’s The Payback
Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.