Weapons of Audio is different, to say the least. There has been party rap before. There have even been rap groups that used live bands for both recording and performing.
But even still, Weapons of Audio is unique.
As soon as you pop in Bipolar and the beginning of “Boogie Shoes” hits your speakers, you know what you’re in for—or at least you think you do.
Yes, this is party rap. But Floyd and Jeremy Daniels, the brothers behind Weapons of Audio, sound like a rawer, more emotional Shwayze, or maybe LMFAO with a band. Whatever it is, it’s irresistibly entertaining. The album consists of mostly party jams that cover the usual topics fresh in most 20-something’s mind: drinking, druggin’ and a whole lot of dancing.
Across its 10-track album, Weapons of Audio tries a lot of different things. There is bongo drum work on “Ladies Man,” a lot of electric guitar and even a few techno-based tracks. Some of this works, but unfortunately some of it they could have left on the drawing board.
“View Me in 3D,” for instance, sounds forced, as if the duo reached too far outside of their comfort zone. It’s not that the song is bad as much as it just doesn’t work and feels like more of a mix tape mash-up than an album cut.
Problem areas aside, there is a lot of good on this album. On “Top Down,” Weapons of Audio does a great job of painting a picture, a very enjoyable one at that: “As the pedal hits the floor, hear them horse roar/ Now I’m cruising down 85, and I’m feelin’ the vibe.” The song reminds the listener of happier times, riding with the windows down in the summer and enjoying life.
But what makes Weapons of Audio stand out even more than their eclectic beat choices or their crafty lyrics is how real they sound. It is striking how down-to-earth they seem.
Take “Kill My Boss,” for example. Everyone’s had bosses they hated, and the Daniels brothers obviously have, too.
But by talking about something so normal, it makes the story of the enjoyable weekend on “Top Down” resonate even more. We’ve all been ready for Friday night, thought how much fun the night of partying would be, especially when juxtaposed to the boredom and stress that many people endure at work.
In the face of mundane, mainstream hip-hop, Weapons of Audio manages to stand out. By making an album that zigs when most others zag, Bipolar separates itself from the abundance of radio riff-raff.
