Mission Creek Festival: Strangers of Necessity/Anthony Worden/Armand Hammer, Gabe’s, Iowa City, Friday, April 5 at 7:30 p.m., $65-215
I miss ’90s hip hop. A lot. And that’s no dig against today; I just miss that sound. Lucky for me, and you too, Strangers of Necessity have us covered. Their most recent album, Vibe Theory, is more than a nod to the ’90s, but a fresh take on what many consider one of the greatest decades in the game.
Strangers of Necessity is a two-person group based in Chicago, featuring Fooch the MC and Iowa City’s own CoryaYo. Apparently, the pair met on Twitter and have been in cahoots ever since. Vibe Theory is their third release. While there are wobbles on the album, the skips are few and far between.
The album begins with “Incredible Flow,” and as we are told in the song, the vibe is indeed incredible. But what it really does is set the tone. The record is a reflective look at where Strangers have been, but also where they’re going, and tracks like “Flight Ticket” do that well. Both Fooch and CoryaYo rhyme on the record, and the wordplay between them is intricate and nuanced. Fooch’s bars are reminiscent of Gift of Gab, or fellow Chicago rapper Lupe Fiasco, but with an edge, and the rolling beats and snares of CoryaYo’s production are some of the best in the Midwest — I’d even go farther and say they’re some of the best period. CoryaYo has that lo-fi, jazz and soul that define the ’90s hip-hop underground.
There are several great tracks on the record, but “Abundance” really stands out, because I think it sums up the album’s focus. As the title might suggest, the track lyrically moves us from talking about the financial success that they have to how that blessing spills out beyond just money. Therein lies the duo’s secret: At first listen, this record tells the typical hip-hop story: money, love, lyrical superiority. But it goes on to show us their soul. Making music means something to them. All of their efforts in this game stem from this.
I also really liked “Feel Alright,” which is their party song. Along with the usual references to club looks, bouncing bodies and “we goin shine like filaments,” I love the juxtaposition between the lyrics, which show us all the trappings of a good night out, and the slowed down, soulful beats. It’s like walking through a backyard barbecue on a hot day.
The production on this album is the genius of it. CoryaYo’s distinctive sound really lets the record shine, and while I’m not reviewing their entire discography, I have listened to enough of it to say that his production is consistent — if you enjoyed their past records, you would really like this one. If you are fans of ’90s hip hop, like People Under the Stairs, Jurassic 5, De La Soul, J.Dilla and Peanut Butter Wolf, give Vibe Theory a listen.
Strangers of Necessity will be performing at Gabe’s in Iowa City on April 5 as part of the Mission Creek Festival, and I don’t recommend missing it.
This article was originally published in Little Village’s March 2024 issue.
