WEST BOUND
Album Review
November 2006: Okay Player (www.okayplayer.com)
By Andrew Hsu

West Bound
West Bound

3Sixty5 Records; 2006

Inspired by 2005, The West Bound Tour, Mikey Mo "The MC", Abyss, & Dap Daniel got together to record West Bound and represent the Bay Area hip hop scene. West Bound delivers that raw Hip Hop straight from the West Coast with an East Bay mentality. Each MC delivers their own style to the album while complementing one another on the mic.

The production work by Abyss & Dap Daniel on the album is incomparable. The beats are fresh and very Bay Area. No two tracks sound alike and each track provides its own flavor and interpretation. Some tracks sound like something you would hear in a club, bump in your car, or something you would dance to, while other tracks seem more upbeat, fun, and full of substance.

Lyrically, West Bound heavily relies upon the chorus and the looping beats. Both are complimentary to each other; however, each tracks seems to fails to develop lyrically and fails to progress are the track goes on. This theme is repeated throughout the album, causing the album to feel static and boring towards the latter tracks once the listener gets use to the beats and the non-developing lyricism.

Overall, West Bound is a solid release. It provides stunning beats; however, the lack of progression lyrically holds the album back from its potential. If this debut is any indication of what is to come in the future for West Bound, be prepared for West Coast and Bay Area hip hop to explode back onto the map.

– Andrew Hsu

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