"Riddim Killah" can also be characterized as an international album. Having been born in Panama, Zulu uses both English and Spanish on the album.
The reggae aesthetic creates a decidedly Caribbean feel. His moniker refers to the group of "second-class citizens" who were discriminated against during South African apartheid, a reference that supports his belief, "that all the world is family." Hints of all these are blended-in throughout the album.
There is also a lot of notable mixing musically on "Riddim Killah." An experienced producer and engineer in Chicago, Zulu is given room to flex his muscles. From the taut, spare rhythm on "Roll With Us" to the frenetic cymbal taps on "It's My World," the beats seem to take the lead and Zulu's rhymes have to follow along. Throwing in different genre influences only makes the beats more intriguing, settling dancehall anthems alongside a speedy, reggae delivery.
The album is also a bit of a mixed bag, lyrically. Zulu falls victim to one of the most common pitfalls in rap by using a lot of the generic "dance to my track" lines, like "I'll tell you nice and slow, take it nice and slow," on "Striptease."
While these kinds of lines are awesome at the club, Zulu also shows hints of something more meaningful. He provides an interesting insight on "Cop That" singing, "Have a gun in me waist, get me mad, and me shoot up the place/With the blanks, I'm just foolin' you/But tell the youth I'm the bomb diggidy, don't bother me/I'm only a gangster in the studio."
On "It's My World," he explores individual freedom concluding, "Next time if you just jump up, you won't have to wear those chains no more."
While "Riddim Killah" is successful in establishing an original sound, it doesn't always stick together. There are times, such as "Striptease," where the parts just don't add up to the whole. The unclear lyrical voice can take away from the exotic blend that Zulu creates. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the beats, and the album's rhythms can only be described as completely danceable. |
