Album Review: Unknown (The Universal Element) – Man of Tomorrow

Man of Tomorrow

01. Reflections

02. Letters

03. Fourth Quarter

04. Acid Tears

05. Scent ( f/ Verse* All & Mojo of Dujeous)

06. Invisibile Man

07. B.L.U.E.S.

08. Save the Babies

09. Generals ( f/ Sub- Con)

10. Honey ( f/Pedro Herrera)

11. Organic Sorbet

12. Separation ( f/ Ted Sutton)

13. Four You

14. Aquatics (f / Sub-Con)

15. Air ( f/Renee Nuefville & Mojo of Dujeous)

16. Priceless

 17. Man of Tomorrow

A few weeks back, I had the pleasure of meeting an interesting brother by the name of Unknown. After a few minutes of some serious album pitching, I gave a listen to his cd. He proceeded to play me a snippet of “Letters”, an introspective look on the sacrifices that a he’s had to make in the past.  I have to admit that not only was I impressed at the presentation (of the album) and the sales pitch, but the fact that this guy had an interesting and refreshing perspective on life. 

This cat is an emcee who brings various scenes of his many triumphs and hardships in many of his songs, namely “Acid Tears” & “Aquatics”.  He further engages your attention in the ever-smooth “Organic Sorbet.” It is here that Unknown positively acknowledges his attraction to his chocolate skin sisters. He effortlessly manuevers through the beat with rhymes of adoration for the soul and spirit of the African (American) woman.  In “Honey”, he paints a picture of a man who had no regard for women in the past, but by observing a few misguided women & the birth of his child he has re-evaluated his outlook on women.

One of my favorite tracks, “B.L.U.E.S.”, he cleverly weaves together with a great piano melody loop,  the voices of Denzel Washington (Malcolm X speech) and Al Sharpton, and an excellently crafted hook, which defines B.L.U.E.S. as “Blacks Lose Under Experimental Studies.”  He presents the issues of socioeconomic/racial discrimination conducted by the U.S. Government & the incidents that occur in our inner cities across the country. 

In the inner city you commonly hear a mother cry over the grave of her son/  

saying how it hurts too deep/    

while the other son’s paroled during work release/ 

I tie another medley for bloodshed streets/        

where most men are made to feel they are deadbeats/

But life is in Love, no faces ever look pleased/        

 in sheets it seems the number of dead are covered and spreads/    

as bookies in a future population made of drug pushers, addicts,and crook theives…  

Blacks Lose Under Experimental Studies, it’s blues…. blues…

Above all else,  Unknown strives to make mention of his dreams of achieving his goals while staying true to himself.  With a few tracks that detract the average listener’s attention (“For You” & “Fourth Quarter”)  from a jewel like “Air” (which features Renee Nuefville from the 90’s R&B group ZHANE), Unknown accomplishes his task as an artist to take his listeners on a journey through the world…as he sees it.  

Click on the Album above to listen to snippets of the tracks & Check him out on myspace…. Unknown ( The Unknown Element )

 Peace & Love