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L.E.G.A.C.Y. – Project MayhemAlbum Review by:
John Kennedy
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
 Since Little Brother’s critically-acclaimed album, The Listening, the underground hip-hop world has had its eyes glued on the Justus League , the North Carolina-rooted camp that birthed the trio. But despite Little Brother’s major accolades – including inking a deal with Atlantic Records – this is far from a one-man team. The next in line to rescue hip hop from the pitfalls of uniformity is L.E.G.A.C.Y., whose name is an acronym for “Life Ends Gradually And Changes You.” On his debut solo effort, Project Mayhem, Legacy attempts to emerge from the ranks of the Justus League roster to glory with unique lyricism and personal pain.
With production responsibilities divided between Justus League beatsmiths 9th Wonder and Khrysis, Project Mayhem sonically shines alongside Legacy’s composed delivery. The album opens with “Mayhem,” on which Leg flexes his lyrical muscle over Khrysis’ staticky synths and sharp snares. 9th laces the infectious, head-bobbing “Nice” and adds some soul on “Sista Girl” with a Fruity-Looped Aretha Franklin sample while Legacy addresses the ladies. The lead single, “I’m A Star,” invites Justus League cronies Joe Scudda, Median, and Chaundon to spit proud bars over a Khrysis’ lingering violin backdrop. Interestingly following the pompous single is the humble “I’m Nothing.”
Phonte of Little Brother joins in on “Pure” as he and Legacy spit fiery punchlines over another awesome Khrysis production. But while the first half of the album is filled with clever punches, the latter half has more conceptual material. Leg rhymes about his many sleepless nights on the drowsy “Insomnia” and follows in the tradition of Nas ’ “Black Girl Lost” with the drum-infused “Fast Girls.” He captivates with “2-Sided Coin,” an unreal and highly ironic series of tragic occurrences: “A fireman gets promoted to chief / his house burns down the same week / A pathological liar speaks trueness / For graduation, buy your daughter a new whip / nobody saw death / she was killed in a car wreck,” Legacy rhymes. On “Imperfect World,” Leg reflects on the injustices of “a world that’s cold like the other side of the pillow” over a classical, echoing piano sample, as Keisha Shontelle and Phonte harmonize the hook.
Project Mayhem shimmers brightest when the NC lyricist lets loose his inner anguish through poignant tales of bereavement. 9th’s somber melodies play psychiatrist to Legacy’s brutally honest “Pain In Life” and heavily detailed “Broken Heart Disease.” The former finds Leg speculating on the possibilities of afterlife: “Resurrection / they say it ain't possible / but my son was born on the same floor in the same hospital / that my aunt died in / Is it that his life begins? / Life ends?” Legacy cannot bear to finish his verse on the latter, as he relives the grief of losing a special woman in his life.
Balancing witty one-liners, intelligent introspection and raw emotion, along with a melodic and well-suited soundtrack, Legacy adds to the rapidly-growing legacy that the Justus League is establishing. If you are searching for real hip-hop, look no further than Project Mayhem.
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