Rhymefest in the mirror

I've said it before and I'm sure I'll say it again, you can forget Lupe, Kanye, Common or any other of the key players in Chi-town's current rap resurgence. Because for me, the best of the lot is Rhymefest. And I say that with a huge amount of admiration for the other three heavyweights of the scene. Of course Rhymefest doesn't have the track record of Common, or the superstar status of Kanye, or social kudos and lyrical intellectualism of Lupe, but the man can rhyme and he is funny as hell. I don't know, I just like his style. Time will tell if forthcoming long player "El Che" is up to the mark of debut "Blue Collar" which I thought did not get the critical acclaim or sales it deserved, but for now Fest deserves some praise. And the reason for drawing attention to him is his inspired, download only, album of Michael Jackson remixes, entitled Man In The Mirror.

Heralded by the Chicago Tribune as the best Michael Jackson album in 25 years (fitting given the current 25 year anniversary of Thriller), this exercise in mixtape-ology is a great piece of work which perhaps is only possible in the internet age. Mix-tapes have become an increasingly popular way for established and new artists to push work of questionable legality or of uncertain commerciality direct to fans. They are quickly becoming a mainstay of the hip-hop underground. And there is certainly nothing legal about Rhymefest's use of Jackson's back catalogue, but rather than being a thoughtless plundering of classic beats, or indeed a cheap shot at a much derided and increasingly confusing musical icon, Fest's tribute is heartfelt, clever, inventive, and clearly made by a true fan.

Fest's raps are on point and guest spots from Mary J, Talib and Ghostface add to the mix, but it is the skits and inter-splicing of Jackson's out-takes and contrived discussions between Jackson and Fest which give the project a touching humanity. Jackson's legal woes are his business, but there is no doubt that many music fans are puzzled as to how to treat an artist who has had such a positive impact on music's legacy, and yet has faced such strange personal issues. Well here is a project that allows a different insight into Jackson's world, and a different perspective on his iconic image, and for that it is priceless. Check it out, even if just for curiosity, and you may be pleasantly surprised. If you are Rhymefest fan, you'll be interested also and delighted that a precursor to his new legal album is available. Original and well executed, the era of the mixtape has just entered a new phase.