Philadelphia's Bahamadia isn't trying to go punch-for-punch with most of her male contemporaries. Her lyrics aren't the type to knock you out in one breath; instead they keep you off balance with a peppering of texture-rich rhymes that add up to a positively potent result. At a time when some MCs (Ol' Dirty Bastard and Busta Rhymes, for instance) seem ready for their own comic strip, Bahamadia remains in the shadows, honing her skills as if she's preparing for an MC battle to the death. Before we can say that she was discovered by Gang Starr's Guru in 1993, you'll notice her thick, earthy monotone flow, creeping up on you like a lyrical nerve gas that bears similar qualities to Guru's, as she remains resolute, confident and strong throughout her artistic debut, Kollage. With sparse, beat-drenched production courtesy of DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz and others, tracks like the infectious "Word Play" swoop you up in a sea of bass, while other cuts, like "Innovation," leave behind a jazzy residue as Bahamadia teaches her peers how to leave an impression without going into hysterics. "I Confess" is spiced by the use of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," making it the most accessible radio cut, but we favor her square-off with fellow Philly natives the Roots on the live "Da Jawn," inspired by Funky Four Plus One's "It's The Joint." - Glen Sansone (CMJ New Music Report, April 1996). Revisit this gem of an album below and you can still catch her live on tour.
A copy of the album review in CMJ New Music Report is below...
