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Question: Was the ridiculous wait for Blue Collar, the debut set from Rhymefest (this set's been in the mix for over a year) really worth the wait?

Yes.

And no.

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Let's deal with "no" first. Nothing, not even the latest from Jesus Christ himself, can withstand the pressure of anticipation that's mounted and ballooned over an entire year. After all, after the firestorm of Fest being called out as the real scribe behind mega-star "mentor" Kanye West's "Jesus Walks," plus buzz that dude is brilliant, no one can live up to the unrealistic expectations of starved hip-hop music fans everywhere. It's just not possible - not even for the messiah of rap because even a messiah needs a decent intro.

Now let's get to the "yes." Hell yes this album was worth the wait. It's chock full of real lyrics, top-notch production and vicious delivery. Whether it's in the pocket or in your face, Fest's rhymes kill every time. Sometimes it's like listening to West, only with much better delivery and tighter lyrics (unless of course the West song in question has been entirely been penned by Fest, and trust there's been a few), but most of the time West's fellow Chicago brother leaves the "Through The Wire" rapper in the dust with said wired jaw dropped flat on the ground.

Fest destroys lyrically with the socially conscious "Dynomite (Going Postal)," a track that comes out swinging from the first gargantuan notes and lays listeners horizontal with dopeness like:

Dime bag-ass nigg*z ain't large
When the Patriot Act come hit they ass with the terrorist charge/
And we, is what they made it fo'
You think it's all about Arabs? It's a war on the po', we gotta go/
Like a killer or a man or a giant when he stand
Open your palm bitch, we got the world in our hand.

and then...

Got a gun and a plan, I got the Torah and the Qu'ran.

Whaaaat?!

In fact, the entire CD finds Fest speaking on social issues, personal experiences and well thought out musings. "Tell A Story," evokes the same insane bounce that laced Outkast's "The Whole World" and slays with tight-ass storytelling prowess. "Stick" serves it up hot, nasty and bone straight and should satisfy the listeners who just have to have a club track. The only straight miss on this set ironically features West ("Brand New") talking trash and sounding mad superficial next to homie. Bad move here where the rule of thumb might have been let Fest just run the entire album if you lack the skills to hang.

Fest can speak and preach with the best of them but never comes off as a preachy dude. At times he comes off just plain hilarious as in "Build Me Up" featuring the late O.D.B. The majority of the song sees Rhyme consulting with ODB on how to get the girl, and boasts the latter singing the hook from The Foundations' classic "Build Me Up Buttercup." After the totally off-key ODB vocals, Fest realizes ole girl "wasn't that buttercup, she was just another slut" and invites a still wailing ODB to watch the flick "When Harry Met Sally."

Not if that isn't classic, I don't know what is.

Download:  “Dynomite (Going Postal)” “Tell A Story” “Stick” "Devil's Pie"

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