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!earshot - Album Review Offsides - Foul Language [Odouble F Records/URBNET] By James Hayashi-Tennant (Oct 17, 2004)  Far too many independent hip-hop artists try and emulate the thuggery that’s prevalent in the genre, and the results are often lamentable. Offsides, on the other hand, obviously have a love for hip-hop that goes beyond pop trappings. While their sound isn’t yet refined, there’s a lot of potential on their Foul Language. Occasionally, it’s a nugget – in the otherwise unremarkable “Ukraine,” the group use an inventive and obscure sample (Jeff Wayne’s 1978 War of the Worlds record, anyone?) Elsewhere, it’s a nod to their influences, even if it’s a touch too obvious (the Jay-Z flow on “2Def”). In other songs, it’s the attitude – “I’d rather teach my peeps how to transfer funds,” from “Keep Moving,” may not be the smoothest line, but it suggests a more realistic and positive approach. Occasionally, though, it all merges on the same track ( “Hipnosys,” “K.P.L.” “C.K.I.K.”). As the album progresses the production grows more dense and layered, and while it’s a bit rough around the edges, they pull it off on songs such as “Off The Meter” and “Turn It Up.” Nothing here is going to roar up the charts, but who cares; what’s underground is far superior to what’s on the charts most of the time, and if Offsides don’t sell out and keep at it, they might have a solid underground career ahead of them.  | ||||||
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