Boom Bap: original rap trio to perform at the UW

The very foundation of rap music is the beat, and Boom Bap Project's debut, Circumstance Dictates, follows that pattern. Though the crew, comprised of emcees Destro, Karim and DJ Tre, does minimal in-house production, its choice of veterans and up-and-comers Jake One and Vitamin D prove to be the EP's strongest asset. The outstanding beats provide a ring in which Boom Bap goes head-to-head with anyone who dares to challenge it.

The lead single, "The Trade," established that with its opening statement. Whether they "slap your rap affiliates" or are "reaching straight for the throat," Karim and Destro take no prisoners with their lyrical barrage. Jake One blends blaring horns, while Vitamin cuts up the familiar KRS-One "boom bap, original rap" sample.

Another emcee known for his bold statements, Kutfather, joins the crew, demanding that the artificial actors in hip-hop "Take It To The Stage." Despite the high energy of the cut, the extraordinary organs orchestrated by Vitamin make for an enjoyable mood.

Although Boom Bap has consistent delivery, flow and lyrics throughout, "All I Have Left" separates itself from the other songs with a dark and haunting aura more prevalent in the crew's affiliate in Oldominion. A constantly shaking rattle, combined with the gripping guitar work of H-Bomb, sets the table for everyone to rip it including Snafu, JFK and Toni Hill on vocals.

"Net Worth" and "Odds On Favorite" tap into the talents of the Bay Area's Pep Love and L *Roneous respectively and have solid production as well. But given the presence of Black Anger on "All Stars," Jake One doesn't do the guest appearance by Kindu and E-Real justice with a beat that sounds like a stripped down version of DJ Premier's beat from "Itz A Set Up" on Gangstarr's Moment Of Truth.

For the most part, Boom Bap sticks to a conservative formula. On the one hand, the battle rap grows somewhat old, but the production more than compensates for it, especially on the more distinctive "All I Have Left." With its solid product and the business aspect locked down, Boom Bap should blow up as long as Circumstance Dictates.

Cirucumstance Dictates is available at foolblown.com and hiphopsite.com, and "The Trade/ Writer's Guild" single is available at local record stores.

See Boom Bap Project, Living Legends, Anticon, Sage Francis, Oldominion, L *Roneous and B-Mello at the HUB Ballroom, 7 p.m. Saturday. The show is all-ages; general admission is $13 at the HUB Box Office w/student ID, $15 at Cellophane Square and Valentine's Barbershop.