LMS-In The Meantime
REVIEW FROM 305 MAGAZINE (MARCH/APRIL 2007).
Words By David Rosario
LMS is an artist with an empowering voice and has much potential for Longevity. In The Meantime appropriately opens up with the title track and it's one of the first songs in a long time where the production and subject matter mesh effortlesssly. That's a feat very hard to come by, but LMS and Jai Nite are successful in creating a smooth testament of various issue concerning daily life tribulations and the speculated downward trend of hip-hop. LMS boldy professes that if you claim yourself to be Hip-hop (ala Krs-one), then hip-hop can't be dead, because if it was dead then you're dead.
In The Meantime is diverse in production and that rubs off on the direction that LMS takes on various songs. Producer Hazardis Creates an amazing beat that even Kanye would be jealous of on "You've Been" that gives LMS a repeating vocal sample that lends to the theme of LMS looking at his life from the outside in. On "You've Been", LMS goes on to rhyme about a spectrum of experiences such as going "From a Sinner to a Saint, From a Singer to a rapper./ From Beginnin to End, and First to Last Chapter./" Then on "Mooove!", LMS almost creates a jazzed out version of the Ludacris song that shares a simlar name, but does it with a smooth sampled tune courtesy of D.Grand.
The highlights of the album are visible in the songs where LMS doesn't hold back and opens himself up to dive into topics that most people in hip-hop rarely touch on, such as in "Best Friend", a love song with a twist over a trip-hop styled beat created by Beta Control. But the standout track of the album is the Mad Skrews produced "I try" featuring Songstress Bree. The Multi Layered Beat with heavy snare patterns make the background for a song meant to inspire those who are simply moving day-by-day trying to find a better way. It's an influential song for anybody who seems to not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. LMS is sure that the light isn't far away and professes that you shouldn't just sit around, but to get up and start that journey towards the light. Just TRY
While the Majority of the album consists of good music, the reoccuring flaw that LMS has is his reference towards a supposed problematic music industry and the over-saturation of "wack rappers". Otherwise, LMS has the potential to develop himself to be one of the greats. In The Meantime just serves as one of the steps that he needs to take before he gets there- David Rosario
"Born in Jersey, but Made in Dade" It is this phrase that describes Not only the upbringing, but the influences that make LMS the mc that he is. It is this pairing of two distinctly diffrent ways of music that give LMS his uncanny ability to lyrically decimate beats from either side of the coast. Whether it be to the booming bass and synths of Lil Jon, or the cuts and chops of Dj Premier, LMS's confidence unwavers when he steps into the booth or grabs the mic. His Debut cd/mixtape "The Pagemaster Vol.1" gives an accurate portrayal of LMS's highs and lows being a Master of Ceremony on the rise. With production from Write Beat, D-Raynged, and Germ, LMS gives more or less an autobiography and an explanation of his whereabouts since his days of hosting Rap Battles in Miami Lakes. On songs like his cover of Mobb Deep's "Get Away", LMS indirectly explains his need of taking a step back from society by describing the things in life that made him resort to his own solitude. On the songs "Suck My D*ck" and "Reality Check", The hialeah rapper gives a lyrically scathing critique of both the Bush Administration and The Rap game in general, with lines like "Nigga said you did time, but the shit was really Boot Camp./ Only ghetto thing you did was buy food wit a food stamp./ Sayin you a felon and you deadlier than venom./ Expectin ME to believe you when you rockin pink denim??./" But it's the songs where LMS goes into his personal life that give the listener a real understanding and empathy of LMS's own struggles with his family,and his lost love. "Here I go again" is a heart felt portrayal of LMS's addiction to pain, constantly tryin to make right with a woman who one day said she loved him, but would cheat on him the next day. With D-raynged providing the production and LMS providing the honesty, this song can touch the heart of even the coldest individual. Not one to hog the mic, LMS shares space on his cd with artists providing verses all worthy "best supporting rapper" status. Containing features from Dynas, Garcia, Colosus, Ran Rover, Problem Child, D-raynged and Gers from Dub-P, "The Pagemaster" is a shining example of the talent being hidden in the sunshine state. Though far from multiplatinum sales and concert tours, with consistent releases like "The Pagemaster vol.1", LMS will definitly be on his way to national recognition. In the words of Dynas, "YO LMS, THROW THAT NEXT JOINT ON NIGGA!!".
