Posted on February 18, 2010 - by Antoinette

REVIEW: Young Scolla – Escaping Reality

“I’m feelin’ out of place/a piece shoved in a puzzle I don’t fit in/though I know I’m a part of a bigger picture that’s been missin’/but I can’t help that feelings linger/got me wantin’ to stick my middle finger up…” So begins “Runaway”, the first track on Escaping Reality (Fab5ent/USR) the latest release from Detroit’s Young Scolla. Produced by Syrenn with haunting piano strains and thoughtful lyrics, “Runaway” is a good first look at the project.

“Decisions” intelligently examines the cause and effect cycles of the real-life situations of a drug dealer, a stripper and a college graduate who is unable to find work. Original and well-produced by Tecknowledgy (who did the majority of the 9 tracks on Escaping Reality), the song brings a fresh perspective to the “keeping it real” point of view… “I’m a smart individual did great on exams/put effort into my resume/ made it to every class/but as it’s drawin’ an end all I’m seeing is stress/as I look for a thousand jobs and I’m swimmin’ in debt…it was ‘sposed to be easy graduate and make cash/…I hope weed sale is still in demand/ damn this nigga got decisions” …nicely done.

“Get By” has a breezy, California-type vibe and Young Scolla asks a very good question: “Why be the next you when I can be the first me/mean- that’s how I stepped on the scene at 13/ in lunchrooms killin’ niggas’ dreams…” The sample of fellow Detroit native Anita Baker’s “Mystery” on the Focus produced “There’s No Better” is clever and effectively used, and “Perfect Life” has a groovy, neo-soul feel that will make it a summer hit. On “The Future”, Bryant Stewart croons soothingly about the promise of tomorrow…”you see the future belongs to the few who find their beauty in their dreams…” Very poetic.

Escaping Reality, the short album introduction to the upcoming Renaissance Dreams (according to Young Scolla’s blog) probably won’t reverse global warming, end world hunger or stop the fighting in the Middle East, but it is the type of visionary, inventive work that keeps the momentum of hip hop moving forward. The mid-west continues to produce some really talented artists, and it’s nice to know the conscious rapper hasn’t disappeared entirely.

Young Scolla is in a perfect position to carry the torch for Common, Kanye and others who did their work but have come to the point where they have staff payrolls and major bills to pay, and are focusing on more commercial projects. Hopefully, those that come after Young Scolla will take up the banner and run it with the same skill, depth and character his work displays. All that’s left is for the rest of the world to take notice.

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