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Liberator 6.3
Sa-Ra Creative Partners
The Hollywood Recordings
(Babygrande)

Co-signed by heavyweights, Kanye West, Dr. Dre, John Legend, Ice-T, Jurassic 5 and Erykah Badu this production team has stepped from behind the boards to become artists. Their mission: to spread the electro-funk and retro grooves via a journey of sex, drugs and late nite parties. Since D'Angelo and Badu have been missing in action, there's a thirst for some "next level shit" from the post neo-soul crowd. The production team of Taz Arnold, Shafiq Husayn and Om Mas Keith brings electro soul and new school funk, taking cues from Parliament/Funkdelic, Prince and J Dilla and bringing a refreshing dose of life to the funk. Alongside like-minded experimental soul acts J*Davey, Tiombe Lockhart & Platinum Plied Pipers, Sa-Ra exudes the swagger and confidence of a veteran artists. They open with the seductive "Hey Love" and lead into "Glorious" and "Fish Fillet" featuring abstract lyricist Pharoahe Monch. On the retro "So Special," with vocalist Rozzi Dame, they go sunny and make like the Brand New Heavies. "Hollywood Hollywood," is a head snappin' banger with Bilal and "Rosebuds" captures the soulful funk that helped create their street buzz with beautiful stacked vocals and soulful harmonies. "Feel The Bass" features Talib Kweli on some party vibe joint while they cover the Queenbridge murders CNN-style on "Not On Our Level." The fanciful "White! (On the Floor)" and "Bitch" sounds like Prince when he was still a dirty lil' freak. "Ladies Sing" is a nice R&B joint while "Tracey" with Rozzi Dame, is a raunchy lesbian romp with tales of toys and seduction. A welcome surprise is the futuristic funk of "Fly Away" with Erykah Badu and Georgia Anne Muldrow. Sa-ra gets their west coast party vibe cracking with "Lean On Me" featuring Kurupt, and then they close the record with their classic collabo with J Dilla, "Thrilla" and a revised "Hollywood Hollywood." Sa-Ra has cultivated an ambitiuos, creative energy and a psychedelic approach to making music and enjoying themselves along the way. Maybe on the next album they can have more focus, lose a few rappers and deliver on the promise of their obvious collective talents.
(Jon Jon Scott)