Ill Semantics: Theory of Meaning

By Mark Woodley

MC Patriarch has got to be one of the most annoying live MCs around, with his over-the-top posing and bluster, and the whole wave-your-hands-in-the-air-say-hell-yeah crowd participation deal. Just get down to rhyming, man, I can't help but think whenever I see him prancing about. Unfortunately, when you actually do get down to it, rhyming isn't Ill Semantics' strong point; Patriarch and his fellow MC Nemesis' flows are kinda average. The style is connect-the-dots braggadocio with little cleverness and the substance of the 'knowledge' they drop sometimes has the depth of a paddling pool. This is further evidenced by the guest rappers on the album where class-act MC's like Mareko, Abbott, and King Kapisi, inadvertently show up the weaknesses in the core Ill Semantics' flow. What Ill Semantics do well is choruses – there will be a couple more radio hits here to add to 2002 hits Drop That 'Ish and Verbal Assault. And DJCXL proves to be pure gold. This guy is good, real good. His talent and skills wash all over 'Theory of Meaning', creating an inspired and truly creative platform for any MC. Ill Semantics would be lost without him.

Related Information

Issues

NZ Musician

February/March 2003