Kool Keith - Tashan Dorrsett

7.7

out of 10

9.0

out of 10

Track Listing

Download MP3s from eMusic

1. Intro feat. Dj Junkaz Lou

2. Supa Supreme

3. Above Sea Level

4. Flow Smooth

5. Glamour Life

6. La Chacha

7. Magnetic Junkadelic
feat. Ced Gee & D.Eazy

8. The Real Beginer

9. Tashan...

10. Booty Clap

11. We Turn (Skit)

12. Black Lagoon

13. New Shhhiiit

14. Indian

15. Track Runner
feat. Marc Live & Dgiz

16. Industry

17. Zapp

18. Magnetic Junkadelic (Junkadelic remix)
feat. Ced Gee & D.Eazy

19. Supa Supa Supreme (Larry Hutch remix)

Reviewed by row1 Wed 8 Oct 08

Announced over two years ago, Tashan Dorrsett is a new moniker from Kool Keith and French producer DJ Junkaz Lou. While it is a new alias it is not a typical character album like Dr. Octagon or Dr. Dooom, this time it is literally more down to earth with no masks or phasers and Keith (possibly) being Keith.

Having previously released two Kool Keith mix tapes and some other production spots some will be familiar with at least the name DJ Junkaz Lou. DJ Junkaz Lou produces the album without (as mentioned) the use of phasers or any other futuristic sound effects, the result is a varied rap album with styles ranging from Latin (La Chacha), to street (Flow Smooth) and to subcontinental(Indian).

Lyrically after all these years Keith is still no slouch; the only downside is the continual return of the defecation raps (see "The Real Beginer [sic]"), these look like that they are here to stay. Due to all his previous character and sci-fi albums some people seem to think Keith is a UFO chasing escaped mental patient, luckily on one of the albums stronger tracks "Black Lagoon" he addresses this probable misconception:

Some say I used to use Witchcraft,
Reports say I've been to Bellevue,
Sources read I practised Voodoo,
You tell me assholes what you assume is true?
Investigate all myths till you turn blue.

On the track "Industry" Keith emphasises even more that he is just a regular guy and not some out of touch celebrity:

It's the other side of town,
We don't know the password,
Regular people like me and you can't get down,
You gotta be strange,
Plastic like hell.

Tashan Dorrsett doesn't have any major downers (although the guest spots could have easily been cut) and is testament to Keith's uncanny ability to put out album after album while still (usually) maintaining a redeeming quality. It's a recommend album and maintains a consistent pace making it the perfect album to listen to in the car or train; for better of worse it doesn't go to any great lengths to appeal to those outside of Keith's niche market, although when your a pro like him why should you?

Favourite Tracks:
Above Sea Level, Black Lagoon and Track Runner