If you ever believed the ugly myth that female emcees cannot hold their own
on the microphone, then you shall be proven wrong when listening to
Invincible’s long-awaited debut album Shapeshifters. In fact, it should
rebuild your faith in dope females pushing even doper masterpieces. For
those unaware of Invincible, she is one of the founding members of
Anomolies, an all-female ensemble consisting of MC’s, DJ’s, B-Girls, and
Graffiti writers. She has reigned supreme in many rap battles. She was also
one of the creative forces behind MTV’s legendary Lyricist Lounge Show. She
also spends her time as a community activist working with LAMP and Detroit
Summer.
For battle emcees to write songs is one thing. But, to craft an album where
the fast-forward and eject buttons are not needed is a totally ballgame.
With topics ranging from gentrification to racism to suicide, she should
never be accused of being one-dimensional. For me to pick a standout track
is rather difficult because it is unfair to choose one without the other(s).
Invincible-Shapeshifters
This impeccable disc opens with State of Emergency. Nevermind the BANG, she
has officially gone out with the BOOM and BLOCKA-BLOCKA. In The Mourning is
a somber song in ¾ time that pays homage to Detroit’s fallen generals Big
Proof (D12) and J-Dilla (Slum Village), acknowledging the impact they both
had in Detroit AND in Hip-Hop. Ransom Notes showcases the Napalm-like
talents of Anomolies. In pure battle mode, she smashes all competitors,
doubters, and muted ears on Sledgehammer, which also uses a J-Dilla sound
bite for the chorus. To close this album out, Locusts, which features
Finale, reveals the often-ignored, ugly horrors of gentrification. The
hard-hitting musical backdrops are superbly executed by Black Milk, Vaughn
T, 14KT, Haircuts, Apex, Djimon, Jayhask, Belief, Waajeed, Knowledge, and
House Shoes, respectively.
Before, Invincible was known as “every A & R’s worst nightmare”. Well, this
album is a true and living testament that she is a “terrorist threat sent to
crash into the feeble music industry, making it collapse.” Two words to
genuinely represent Invincible and the album itself: INDEPENDENCE and
CLASSIC. Grade A
Jeffrey “Dermo” Perdomo of the Underground Railroad
