Columbus’ Zero Star has become a name of note in the local hip-hop scene over the past few years. 2005’s Problem Child EP turned some ears with its quick doses of lyrical venom, and he gained more attention as a 2006 Columbus Alive Artist to Watch. This weekend, this building momentum brings its first major milestone: Zero’s debut full-length Forever’s Never Really That Long. Released by Columbus heavyweight Weightless Recordings, the album boasts 16 tracks of cleverly boastful verses over top-notch production by Blueprint, Ree-Dic, and DJ Przm. Zero is a lifelong student of hip-hop and its many eras and styles, and here he reveals himself as a devotee of early-mid 90s NYC MCs, with no-nonsense wordplay over mostly jazzy, soulful beats that still thump.
The lyrics here are often laced with brags about his skill on the mic, but then soon followed by worry over how he could easily be a “psycho” on the streets right now. The tension between his past life and his current goals is palpable; he (smoothly) jumps from topic to topic and most songs don’t last much past the two-minute mark before he’s off to the next. Whatever he’s spitting, he definitely wants you to understand him: there are numerous pauses for comprehension, as he is concerned that the listener “gets it.” His story-telling skills are well-honed at this point: one can envision the troubled girl on “Two Way Street,” or the non-English speaking Mexicans that Zero hung out with on “Hello.” He airs out his disgust with thug-rap loving critics on “People” and discusses the problems of drugs and the life associated on the cleverly distorted “The Cycle Remix pt 2.” Though it is clear that he advises against the criminal life here, he does a good job of avoiding preaching and sticking with illustrative examples. His powerful imagery and confident flow remain consistent throughout the album and help tie together the other sometimes disparate elements.
The squad of producers aid the lyrical display with beats that fit his different moods perfectly. Blueprint’s ominous piano loops on “Train of Thought” set the scene for Zero’s streetwise warnings, while the precisely muddy boom-bap on “Stress 101” contributes to the anxious mood. Ree-Dic’s star has also been on the rise of late, and beats like the wistfully reminiscent “Never Enough” and the laid-back soul groove of “PTI” will certainly help that trend. Despite the presence of the three different beatmakers and the short length of the tracks, the album still flows rather well, with the occasional instrumental interlude to keep things moving.
Forever’s Never Really That Long is an excellent album that should provide something for all hip-hop listeners. Come hear the jams at Zero Star’s release party at Skullys Saturday night, November 4th. Besides his headlining set, also featured is a set from Brian Michael Murphy, a beat battle between Ree-Dic and Dyne, and DJ sets from Pos2 and Detox. This will be another display of Columbus hip-hop that you will kick yourself for not seeing.