Northern State

After two albums of borrowing from the Beastie Boys, Northern State finally go right to the source on album No. 3: production by Adrock. Ironically, it is their least Licensed to Ill-like work ever. Instead, Hesta Prynn, Spero and Sprout scrounge from the styles of other geeky white hip-hoppers, such as Luscious Jackson ("Cowboy Man"), Mickey Avalon ("Sucka Mofo") and Peaches ("Cold War"). It's nice to see them branch out, but somehow their lit references and shout-outs to Al Gore and Barack Obama aren't quite as charming without their whole geeky, brainy Beastie Girls shtick.

On album opener "Mic Tester," Hesta Prynn, one of three Long Island natives who form
Northern State, declares, "I don't give a fuck if I rap like a white girl." The trio continues to
build a career on the concept of a female take of Licensed to Ill ("The Three Amigas" is a
near replica of "Paul Revere"), but three albums in, the shtick wears thin. Thankfully, the
three add more singing and guitars here and come up with some genuine gems li... More >