Hush’s true introduction to this disc (“Hush Is Coming”) is pretty impressive, bringing a nice flow and coupling it with a rock backdrop and one of the most recognizable rappers in the game, Nate Dogg. The tinny blips that “let It Breathe” has really provide a higher tone against which Hush’s vocals really shine. The incorporation of seventies/early-eighties style of synthesizers to the track further differentiate the track from the mass of other comparable tracks.
More so, it gives listeners another blast of freshness, ensuring that they will have the desire to continue spinning the disc. Where “Put ‘Em Down” really doesn’t excite during its opening strain, the catchiness of the chorus makes up for any perceived weakness. Hush’s vocals on the track are not quite as fluid as they could be, so listeners may have a little problem really getting into a proper groove. “Real T.V.” (which has Bizarre guest starring) uses the sped-up seventies-like vocals that were present on “Until the End of Time”; surprisingly enough on this track, New Jack Swing breaks through for the briefest time. At opportune times during the track, one can almost even hear “CooleyHighHarmony”-era Boyz II Men. Bringing the rock influence back (with about the same success that Run-D.M.C. had during their “King of Rock”) for “The March”, individuals are assaulted with dual bringers of harmony – the catchy guitar riff present and Hush’s own infectious vocals.
The track, which seems to really expand on the theme began by Eminem’s own “Mosh”, is the first rap track to be able to crossover (to the rock charts) since Cypress Hill’s “Rock Superstar”. Throwing in synthesizers that would be just as fitting for a Journey song during eir “24 Hours”, Hush really shows longevity in “Bulletproof” that is simply not to be found in rap today. There are no skits to break up the momentum, and by and large there are just not any weak tracks to be found. By far, the most played track on this disc has to be “Off To Tijuana”, the “starring Eminem” track on the disc. While it does start off weakly (a pseudo-skit to open up the song), the low-key flow of all involved seems closer to something like Esham or Twiztid than the innovator and master of mixing rap and rock. Overall, even if the money shot is a dribbler instead of a squirter, Hush’s “Bulletproof” is one of the most solid rap discs of the year.
Top Tracks: Hush Is Coming, Real T.V.
Rating: 6.8/10
Hush – Bulletproof / 2005 Geffen / 12 Tracks / http://www.mchush.com / http://www.geffen.com / Reviewed 25 September 2005