Artist: ETCETERA Album: Game Change Review by Jason Randall Smith Brooklyn-based rapper Etcetera runs through a laundry list of musical influences towards the end of “Ode 2 Hip Hop,” a poem that opens his Game Change album. It’s a list that spans the history of the genre from old school to new school, from East Coast to West Coast. This spoken word homage reveals Etcetera’s history with hip-hop as well as his knowledge of it, participating as a listener first and eventually as an emcee. As part of the artist roster for The Sound Of Brooklyn Records, the utmost respect that he had for the music as a fan transfers directly into his rhymes and the beats that flow underneath him. Those new to Etcetera’s work are brought up to speed with “Oh No (Remix),” revisiting a rap/rock fusion from 2004. Lyrical bars piled high and deep with braggadocio are spilled over a heavy drum track, guitars blazing nonstop the whole way through. “Make It Hot 4 Me” switches gears and delivers head-nodding vibes on the smooth tip. Hand claps and cowbells guide the beat while a guitar loop is chopped up to add extra spice to the rhythm. Etcetera’s approach to the microphone is somewhere between the ultra-confident swagger of L.L. Cool J and the gentlemanly demeanor of the late, great Heavy D. His incorporation of Golden Age showmanship and lyrical prowess can be heard throughout this release, even within the big talk found on “Krazy” and the fashion plate-obsessed verses of “Hottt.” Like L.L. and the Heavster, Etcetera can show his ladies’ man side with the best of them, as evidenced on cuts like “U Know” and “Back In Those Days.” The former selection includes pick-up lines by the pound, caressed by a grown and sexy R&B arrangement. The latter features a memorable vocal hook from Latoya Shambo and percussion that shuffles quietly in the mix. Harps and strings cascade around memories of a relationship that was once in its infancy, but has proven to stand the test of time. One of the most touching songs on the album is “God’s Gift,” containing a dancehall bump designed for the clubs while its lyrical content offers much more for the listener. It is here that Etcetera explores the unconditional love and wisdom shared from a father to his daughter, displaying the type of tenderness that needs to be heard in hip-hop more often. Lest anyone thinks that he can’t bring it with the wordplay, the title track will blow that perception out of the water. “Game Change” contains some of Etcetera’s best lines on the album, staying calm and cool even while in battle mode sizing up the competition. “They take a stab at ‘cha, try to embarrass your character,” he explains, “but I betcha I’ll get rid of all you bad boys like Arista.” When it’s time to take it to the clubs, he’s all in. “Do What We Like” is propelled by a forceful bass kick and smacking snares accentuated by dramatic synth chords. “Ain’t Nobody” closes the album on a celebratory note, working orchestral snippets into a beat tailor made for the dance floor. A cut like this could make older hip-hop fans involuntarily bust out classic moves from their youth (The Running Man immediately comes to mind). To hear Etcetera tell it, “I went from carrying bags (go ahead and laugh) / to writing your favorite songs, you do the math.” Judging from the lyrical versatility on Game Change, paying dues certainly have paid off. While the album doesn’t necessarily break new ground, it does inject a lost art of performance and precision that today’s rap music sorely needs. Review by Jason Randall Smith Rating: 3.5 Stars (out of 5)