“Mesanjarz of Funk” Mesanjarz of Funk Atlantic “Mesanjarz of Funk has got the all-around-the-world type flow,” says D-Vell Macafee, who, with Pearl Pizazz, fronts this new group. D-Vell and Pearl, along with DJ Royal Tech, flip an English-Span ish style, all the while keeping the rhymes and beats fat. Many listeners might simply pass over an album if they knew it was bilingual, based on previous experiences with rappers like Gerardo. Mesanjarz of Funk is definitely a hard, underground rap group, keep the crossover. The group, whose members are all from New York City, formed six years ago, but later broke up. It re formed a few years ago. Now, with help from their manager, Big I God, the group has put together their first album. Most of the tracks are straight up funk, due mostly to Keyboard Money Mike, one of the founders |- ■,, . .1 * - of Boogie Down Productions, and Tony Dofat, a new producer who has worked with the Flavor Unit. Add these guys’ funk with the pure skill of DJ Royal Tech — he can rap, too—and the lyrics, and the result is an album ofdope tracks. The lyrics are where D-Vell and Pearl come in. They rhyme fast, as in the fleet-tongued title track, and slow, in “Save the Drama.” Mean while, listeners barely realize the duo is switching back and forth between English and Spanish. Then they start mixing up lyric styles. On “Funk in the Trunk,” they adopt an offbeat style, while on “What U Wanna Do, featuring some raps by Tech, they hit a quick every-syllable style. This is true freestyle versatility. The group throws in a couple guest spots from Lord Finesse and L-Boogie on “Flip Da Script,” and a small spot from Fat Joe da Gangsta on one of the silly shorts between songs. What really exemplifies the Courtesy erf Atlantic Records group is the song “Keep It Flowin. ’ ” Freestyle rhymes over eerie funk keep the jeeps pumping and the vibe rolling. Once they set past the bilingual obstacle, hip-nop fans should find satisfaction in Mesanjarzof Funk’s finished product. —Greg Schick “Represent” Fat Joe da Gangsta Relativity/Violator Records The Bronx delivers yet another “fat” rapper and, once again, this one’s no joke. With a name like Fat Joe, one might conjure up a vision of Arsenio Hall doing his joke gangsta rapper, Chunky A. But Fat Joe’s nojoke. Hisgangsta style is as smooth as any — and truly fat. to 52,000+/ month ♦ world travel (Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, ate.). Summer and Career employment available. For more MormaHon call 1-206 634