The Nonce - The Sight of Things1. Live & Direct
2. The Greatest MC's
3. Turnin' It Out
4. The Sight of Things
5. Checkbook...
6. Who Falls Apart
7. Articulate With Math
In 1995, the duo of Yusef Afloat & Nouka Basetype released their highly slept-on longplayer World Ultimate, an album fuelled by the laidback flavor that undoubtedly influenced later left-coast groups like People Under the Stairs, Visionaries etc. Although some of the album’s tracks like ‘Mixtapes’ turned a few heads, the group didn’t make a big impact and I figured they had become another victim of the industry until I saw this underrated EP in a store back in 1998.
Stylistically, The Sight of Things follows on (for the most part) right where World Ultimate finished. If you’re looking for some joints that are gonna get you rowdy in the club, look elsewhere. The Nonce are all about making you relax. A lot of cats that attempt ‘laid back’ hip hop usually achieve only in sending the listener to sleep. On the EP’s best tracks like ‘The Greatest MC’s’ and ‘The Sight of Things’ however, The Nonce have it both ways. The binding of the rappers’ slippery flows to their self-produced bumping beats results in relaxing music which doesn’t tread into monotony. ‘Checkbook’, which deals with folk who let their ends (or lack of) get the better of them is another track that gets props.
The only times the record falters is when The Nonce attempt grittier, less jazzy production like on ‘Turnin’ it Out’ and ‘Articulate With Math’. Both sound uncomfortable, and suggest that the group would have been wise to stick with what they do best. Everyone has to experiment sometimes I guess, but on an EP-length release there’s no room for error.
Still, this is a fine EP sure to please any fans of underground west coast hip hop. Tragically, Yusef Afloat was murdered a couple of years after this release. A couple of posthumous Nonce albums appeared last year: Advanced Regression & The Right State of Mind, neither of which I have either seen or even heard.
Polarity with thanks to Travis (once again) for the upload.
8 comments:
nonce is some good 'isht. I heard one of them killed themself is that right?
I want to say he got hit by a car, but I could be mixing that up with Subroc from KMD
well regarding both storys, what I heard about subroc is that he got killed in a car crash, but the story I heard about the guy from the nonce is that he killed his girlfriend then turned the gun on himself,....kinda random, if anyone can clarify this story becuse I have been wondering about it. dark 'isht either way I guess...
Conrad Capistan, I think you may be confusing that story with what supposedly happened with Scientifik. All I ever heard about Yusef was that he was murdered, I don't think it was either suicide or a car accident. Either way, I'd rather not dwell on it... Just enjoy the music, peace.
i'm dying for a re-up!!!
here are links for the aforementioned Nonce joints that you cant find:
The Right State of Mind
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/rxq104
Advanced Regression
hxxp://www.sendspace.com/file/0iggt1
a small thank you for all of the albums ive grabbed.
Re-up please :)
YUSEF AFLOAT of The Nonce was Indeed Murdered and found under A Bridge....
While Working on my Debut Solo album "Junk Planet" in 99, my Man Deeskee from California who produced half of my album was close friends with Nonce..... I Did A track Titled "Bus Stop Building Block" which was A true Story but Inspired by The Nonce, when they heard my album they loved it and we were supposed to get down, I later found out about Yusef via Deeskee..... and Ended up Dedicated the Entire "Junk Planet" album to Yusef Afloat of The Nonce....
In Tribute to the memories, Sach and I moved foward and Recorded the DUTCHMASSIVE / NONCE Collabo with out Yusef....
It is Called "5AM FLIGHT" produced by myself, Dutchmassive, The Hobbyshop Hero.....
It is off my Unreleased album "Music 2 Sleep To" but if anyone would like the Track, Shoot me A email at (DUTCHMASSIVE@GMAIL.COM) and I will gladly send you the track.....
WORLD ULTIMATE is One of my Favorite albums of all time next to Midnight Marauders... the Ep posted is amazzzing....
Hit me up and Visit me over @t THE HOBBYSHOP HERO (HTTP://THEHOBBYSHOPHERO.BLOGSPOT.COM)
MYSPACE.COM/DUTCHMASSIVE
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