We Rock Hard
LikeFatboy Slim,Asian Dub Foundation, and evenDefinition of Sound(who show up on "Here We Go,"We Rock Hard's anthem), the Freestylers are creatures of the club scene. Their live show is DJ-oriented but involves dancers and rappers; on their debut album, the Freestylers endeavor to layer their music with history (the opening track samples not one but three Public Enemy tracks), big beats, and funky melodies--if they can help it, you're not going to stop dancing for a second. Working with guest MCs keeps the tracks fresh, but if you're not an aficionado of the scene the Freestylers come out of, you might not notice; there's diversity here, but it's subtle. Ultimately, the album falls into a ghetto: it's not quite obvious enough for the casual fan, but it's nowhere near out-there enough for serious crate diggers; fortunately, there are plenty of people who enjoy the middle ground. If you're one, thenWe Rock Hardis for you.--Randy Silver