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DNA:  A Tribe Called Quest, Daft Punk, OutKast

Authenticity refers to the truthfulness of origins, commitments, sincerity and intentions.   12 Step Program from Washington, DC’s Panacea is a welcome step back to a time when hip-hop was the most authentic art form out there.   The best comparative analogy I can come up with is if Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders had a baby with OutKast’s Aquemini.  I truly feel privileged to share this with you because it’s that good. 

I remember the first time I heard Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins back in the fall of 1993.  I wanted more and tracked down other Pumpkins work like Gish.  Hearing the progression that led to Siamese Dream was like listening to a great coming-of-age story being told through the dusty speakers of my 1981 Honda Accord.  12 Step Program will have the same effect on hip-hop listeners starved for an artist with substance.  It’s compelling and will draw you in.  You’ll want to know who this artist is and how their point of view evolved.  

12 Step Program follows the curves in the road that make life interesting.  The album’s concept centers around a darker time in Raw Poetic’s life when he left his home in Northern Virginia to live in California.  12 Step’s lyrics position Raw Poetic’s 9 month stay as a pregnancy, with the trip home to DC somewhat of a rebirth.  The album’s dominant theme is that change is a necessary part of life and you have to be prepared for it.  You have to know yourself and be able to take inventory of your experiences and grow from them.  Raw Poetic’s lyrics are introspective, meaningful and inspiring- it seems that writing this album was a way for him to revisit his West Coast experience in a healthier fashion and take something positive from it. 

Sonically, 12 Step presents the most aggressive step forward for Panacea yet.  Murdock’s signature style of layering and multiple time signatures is still present, but the syncopation of these elements seems to flow more naturally and the sound engineering and mastering seems to be a step ahead.  Raw Poetic shows growth and versatility, doing his own hooks and choruses.  The album’s second track, “Collard-Fried Grey Sky” displays excellent use of rhythmic cadence and timing, while “Texas Jigsaw Massacre” shows Raw Poetic’s versatility in the chorus.
Panacea MySpace page

Final Thoughts
Panacea isn’t about the immediate splash, they’re trying to make a statement, trying to elevate the art form and profession.  Fans come to artists like this as opposed to the opposite.  It’s not about writing a single, getting caught up in the spin cycle, but establishing a tent off in the distance and waiting for listeners to find you, to be drawn in by the sound. 

Hip-hop culture demands honesty, truth and artistic exploration.  It’s a need that never expires.  The music business has avoided this in pursuit of guaranteed profits.  But listening to 12 Step Program makes me want to see Panacea live, wear their t-shirt (which is VERY cool, check it out).  And isn’t that the key, isn’t that the first step to establishing a career?  This is the new way of doing things- focus on the music, focus on delivering the experience, focus on the fans.  Panacea is functioning outside the system.  You can hear them mature on every new release.  So go ahead, take a listen.  If you’re anything like me, you’ll want to know more about their journey and play your part in helping them get to where they’re headed. 
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Listen:  Immortal

Listen:  Texas Jigsaw Massacre

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Listen:  Collard-Fried Grey Sky

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