Elzhi
Born: 1978
Location: Detriot, Michigan, USA
Genre: Hip Hop
Years Active: 1998 -
Real Name: Jason Powers
Meaning of the Name:
Way of Working: Raps over a producers beats
Associated: Slum Village, Jericho Jackson, Black Milk
Essential Releases
Witness My
Growth (2004)
Early mixtape showcasing Elzhi's work from '97-'04.
The Preface (2008)
Debut album heralding Elzhi's arrival as a solo rapper to be taken seriously.
Stepping into the shoes of greatness can be a daunting prospect, but Elzhi took it in stride. During the early 2000s, the stalwart Detroit hip hop group Slum Village cemented themselves in the annals of Midwest Hip Hop as a soulful outfit with capable rappers. However, what made their albums, such as Fan-tas-tic Vol. 2 (2000), truly special was the exceptional beat work of producer extraordinaire J Dilla.
Often hailed as one of the greatest of all time, thanks to his innovative use of micro-time sampling (making intricate rhythms out of tiny fragments), Dilla handpicked Elzhi to replace him when departing the group in 2001 to pursue a solo career. Knowing the gaping chasm his absence would leave, Dilla gave fans a rapper to get excited about: a talented local emcee who would himself go it alone in 2010.
Elzhi is a distinctive rapper who scats his flows before filling them in with dense multisyllablic rhymes. For him, the sound, rhythm, and cadence of his raps come before the lyrical aspect. It's an unadulterated celebration of pure craft, as opposed to the storytelling approach of rappers like Masta Ace.
The virtuoso wordsmith doesn't rap to communicate a profound truth, but to captivate the listener's attention with raw talent and faultless displays of microphone mastery. For example, his track DEMONS uses the word 'demons' as an anagram, and his verses are filled with lyrics that spell out each letter, such as 'Death Equals Murder Oxygen's Neglected' and 'Destroying Every Man Off Narcotics'.
At a time when conscious hip hop was booming, Elzhi offered a counterpoint, using his music as a showcase for his rhyming ability. His ultimate statement, if he needs one, is his undeniable skill on the mic, rendering everything else secondary.
A rapper might have something meaningful to say, but lyrics by themselves will only go so far in hip hop. In order to make people pay attention to the words, they have to be delivered with a command of voice that includes pitch, tone, flow, etc. And therein lies the rub. The art has to be balanced by the craft. In hip hop, the messenger is more important than the message, and listening to Elzhi is a pure joy, even if his lyrical content won't change the world. It's rapping for the sheer thrill of it.
Skills
*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.Emotional Impact
70
Mental Impact
85
Originality
65
Artistry
70
Authenticity
55
Live
70
Production
85
Musicianship
65
Rapping
85
Songwriting
90
Danceability
65
Fun
60
Consistency
70
Range
60
Cool
65
Charisma
40
Commercial & Critical Success
Awards
Certifications
Charts
Critics >>>
- Hip Hop Golden Age: Seven Times Down Eight Times Up - Best Albums of 2020: #8
CRITICISM
- In 2013, Elzhi raised over $30,000 via kickstarter to fund a new album that wasn't released until 2016. During that time, there was only minimal communication with his backers. Elzhi has since apologised, stating he was dealing with depression and legal issues.
