By: Joseph VanBuren
Rating: 9/11

Blitz the Ambassador is a refreshing reminder that hip hop is the melting pot of genres, combining elements of various styles and cultures. In the face of the Pro Tools era, Blitz bravely incorporates live instruments in his music, employing organic dynamics to avoid the digital monotony that hip hop can often suffer from. The brass section in “Breathe” invokes the upbeat vibe of P-Funk, while “Remembering the Future” sounds like the Pharell Williams/KRS-One collaboration that should have been. The rhythm of Ghana, Blitz’s birthplace, is evident in the tracks, in between smooth acid jazz beats and old school breaks. Lyrically, Blitz is just as versatile as the music he rhymes over, poetically addressing social and political issues in “Home” and paying homage to the evolution of hip hop in “Hands of Time.” In balancing three decades of diverse influences, Blitz the Ambassador has created his own unique sound and a positive direction for hip hop.

This may be best showcased in “Nothing to Lose,” Blitz’s duet with Kate Mattison, a student of the Bjork vocal school. The song starts with a trip hop beat, dramatic strings, and Kate’s haunting melodies, and evolves as Blitz’s aggressive verse invokes a climax of hard rock guitars in a powerful portrayal of passion. In creating music that is intricate and interesting yet still true to the essence of hip hop, Blitz the Ambassador has succeeded.