California-based rap artist Kaliber pellets the crunkbox Charts with a style that’s worth checking out.  Many of Kaliber’s songs can be found on the Charts section of Crunkbox, and I reviewed my favorites here.  My first reaction – which turned out to be premature, to “No Suport Ft. Main Event” was that Kaliber was playing it safe, but I quickly realized that he’s just playin’ it as he feels it.  As it turns out, putting it all out there without fear is his talent.  With the lyrics, “I put my soul in these tracks, with no support and it hurts,” Kaliber is just telling it like it is, sometimes in life.  That’s how it goes.  This is just scratching the surface of Kaliber.

 

“Drop It To The Flow” is a cauldron filled with a sensory brew.  Picture a menu offering a bowl of primal rap, mixed with blaring sirens, cymbals, and a ceremonial drumbeat. For those of you who can’t “drop it to the flow” with an intense smile and a serious pop on this one, move your bed away from the wall.  You’re getting up on the wrong side.

 

“Phone Sex Ft. Big Rob” is a suggestive track.  Ok, so it’s not suggestive, it is called “Phone Sex”.  It tugs on the strings of anticipation and burning imagination, or is it… imagination…and burning …anticipation.  I’m not thinking clearly.  I’m distracted.  And, I suggest you breathe deep, slow your roll, drop off your busta, and then take a listen.  Here, with a bit of listener-induced imagination, Kaliber paints a picture of desire with a lyrical brush.    A hypnotic vocal drone rolls out like a dry desert, while two opposing four-note tones from high-pitched strings and a piano build a tension, never to be released.  Listen hard, and pick up on, “…ice cream, whip cream, with a cherry on top…”

 

At this point, I wanted to know more about the artist. Kaliber, according to his biography on Crunkbox (and a little web surfing), appears to be an artist who grew up on the rough side, and had a few close friends and music to get him through. Music and friends add layers to life, but it’s usually the girl who provides the pudding.  Just released on myspace is a brand new video called, “From My Heart”.  If “Drop It To The Flow” were a cauldron filled with a sensory brew, I’d say, that would make “From My Heart”, the entrée and the dessert.  It’s smooth and filling in ways we need.   This soulful flow is one for the ladies yet, even a hustla’ would be hard pressed not to admit, “Yeah, I get it.”  The video starts out at the zoo, and it’s a perfect visual for the groove.

 

Kaliber seems to have learned from his musical influences.  In his biography, he credits as influences, “2 Pac, B.I.G., Lil Wayne, all the greats and i can’t forget Eminem...” It’s no wonder his lyrics ring true to life.  He’s just telling it like it is.

 

 

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=21826923