The duo of Martin Maunder aka FreeMC and Mike Gillespie aka Furious, known together as The Sound & The Fury, are putting some life back into hip-hop. As mainstream hip-hop is becoming less creative, these two Nova Scotians are out to shake things up a little bit with their debut full-length album, Hip Hop Scrabble.

My first reaction upon listening to Hip Hop Scrabble was 'Brilliant'! The Sound & The Fury bring an old skool sound best described as the Beastie Boys meet Buck 65. Their production is most impressive as it incorporates perfectly chosen samples with aurally appealing beats. They also both possess nice flow, and yet successfully mix it up with an occasional spoken word approach.

The Sound & The Fury address conscious issues ranging from anti-war themes on the hard-hitting flute-laced 'Bomb the World,' to the legalization of marijuana on the introspective 'Magical Pot,' to the current state of hip-hop on the Cypress Hill style 'Wack MCs,' to an anti-music industry concept on the riveting 'Video Hit.' However, 'Steal My Wallet' remains my favorite song as its funky groove-laden beat is perfectly complemented by Sylvia's captivating vocals.

As amazed and enthused as I was by The Sound & The Fury's debut album, it did suffer in spots. In particular, the ending tirade on 'Kentville Sucks' starts out funny, but drags on far too long. As well, 'Gayrap' attempts to address gay rights, but in highlighting typical stereotypes, instead comes off more insulting and disturbing than progressive. Finally, the two Nintendo inspired tracks 'Crafty PHD' and the intro to 'Post Apoc' are cool upon the first few listens, but soon become fixtures of the skip button.

Overall, Hip Hop Scrabble was an enthralling experience. The album suffers from a lack of professional mastering, but the beats and lyrics more than make up for this minor downfall. If you're looking for some fresh, edgy and energetic hip-hop, check out The Sound & The Fury. www.thesoundandthefury.ca