Libretto Aims High with New Album and Unique Hip Hop Sound.

By: Normia Scales

“Bang your fists on the wall like this, lunchroom table session ’86…” is a line that spawns “eargasms” for prospects that groove to “Volume,” a track from the newly released album “Illoet” inspired by rising star, Libretto. The cohesive talents of lead artist Libretto, Jumbo, Da Garbage Man, Dubb Flex, Wolverine, Sly, the Brown Hornet and Reverend Shinez AKA “The Lifesavas,” have been fused together to produce yet Another Collaborative Effort (A.C.E.) titled, Illoet the Last Element.” Libretto, both lead artist and co-producer of this album proclaims that the “Last Element” pertains to the “ultimate” element of hip hop coupled with Libretto himself being the final link or “puzzle piece” for Misfit Massive.

An exclusive interview uncovered an array of influences relevant to Libretto’s style. These components have transcended from: break dancing, roller skating, rapping and songwriting sessions since the 6th grade, alongside synchronized melodies, verses and down beats derived from the collective works of Rakim and the apocryphal Curtis Mayfield. Hence, there’s no question as to why such a plethora of sound and verbiage cannot be categorized according to traditional measures. Whereas I’d like to call it mere “EaRhythmatic,” it is instead classified as “slumfunk,” Libretto’s personal/innovative genre of music and title of another selection on Illoet.

Liberal if any boundaries have been established by Libretto which afford the appeal of “anyone who’ll listen,” according to the artist, “ … white, black, red or yellow.” Furthermore, he notes that “I’m just here to plant a seed and it’ll get watered.”

Libretto deems himself as fortunate to have become the first hip hop artist to sign/acquire a recording contract with new LA punk/rock label Dim Mak Records and embraces ongoing challenges inclusive of intensive and laborious marketing. In detail, he counteracts this energy by utilizing his abundant ambition and vigor allied with the prevailing spirit of his belated parents Lloyd P. Jackson and Cynthia Love as illustrated through his vocal biography via the track “slumfunk”. These joint catalysts will enable him to excel in achieving several goals: getting his father a tombstone; accomplishing musical “freedom;” and erecting a new category of music. “Right now there’s a [musical] ‘monopoly.’ You have to be a certain genre of music” per Libretto.

One can securely conclude that Libretto’s musical path has in essence been preordained. In fact, this justifies why he continuously immerses himself in it daily. “I’m a hip hop head” he declares, “… striving to keep it real, keep it raw and keep it honest. I’ve tried the 9 to 5 and tried sports, but God keep sweeping me back to music.” The album is now available in stores across the nation. Moreover, the cut “Volume” is also featured on the Tony Hawk video game T.H.U.G. II in stores near you.