Review From The 828: N.E. Means Presents: ‘ N.E. Ideas?’

There are too few rap albums being released in the 828. That’s a problem I’m genuinely bothered by. How much pride can you really take in your area if there’s not even a decent hip-hop scene? Yes, I know, some people don’t like hip-hop. Well… those are people I can’t help. Only The Wu-Tang Clan can help people like that.
36 Chambers will turn you, if you play it a few times and really listen.
But this isn’t a review of Wu-Tang, it’s for N.E. Means, a hip-hop group featuring Jim Beem from Morganton, NC and Jueller, originally from Michigan, but he’s hanging out in the 828 these days, it would so appear.
Welcome.
When reviewing a local album I always feel like I have to judge it two ways. The first way is considering the fact that it’s being released by someone in Western NC, I must ask myself how it compares to other local cats dropping rap albums in the area. The second way is… how is the album really? In the grand scheme of things? How would it shape up if I had it queued up to play after Illmatic and right before Run The Jewels 2? Would it fit right in there?
The name of the upcoming album from N.E. Means is titled N.E. Ideas? and it’s EP-length at five tracks. I listened to it three times before reviewing it, as is custom.
Verdict?
I’m not displeased.
First and foremost, the production quality is on point. Back in 2008 when I recorded my first hip-hop album it didn’t have half the production quality of N.E. Ideas. Initially I used my cheap Sony ZX headphones to play the album, just to see how it was probably going to sound to the average listener and I was impressed at the definition, even on the cheap-o headphones.
I switched over to a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50x and it became clear that this motherfucker thumps pretty hard. The bass on this sounds like it actually has compression; most underground releases forget how important that actually is.
Instrumentally speaking it’s not bad, but could be better. There’s nothing hitting me as hard, instrumentally, as say, “Black Helicopters” by Non-Phixion, but the beats aren’t sending me away, either. The beat for “Vitality” is rock-solid. If I had a criticism it would be that the record sounds like it wants to be cutting edge and all the same, play it safe My advice is either go fully experimental or just keep it conventional, it’s not easy to pull off both. At times, it seems like Jim Beem can’t quite decide which route he wants to take in that department.
Lyrically, however, Beem is on point and focused. It’s clear that this album is more about the bars than the beats and that’s fine by me. Most up-and-coming rappers go generic on early releases, pussing out on making a good “fuck you” track. Jim Beem doesn’t play the shy-guy, though, he knocks it out of the park. His verse on “Sitting in my Room” is pure onslaught.
If I have an actual complaint about the album, I’ll be honest, it’s Jueller’s delivery and flow. Next to Jim Beem he’s just slogging and kind of drones. Delivery comes with practice, though, it takes some people a little while to get fully comfortable on the mic. He does seem to have potential, but those rhymes could use a touch more complexity and clever wordplay.
Challenge yourself.
In all, N.E. Ideas? isn’t perfect, but it’s a damn sight better than most of the drivel being shoved down the throats of people in the greater Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton area. I’ll definitely keep these cats on my radar and will be interested to see what they come out with next.
I’ll be extremely interested to hear Jim Beem make a solo album, though.
You can check out N.E. Means’ debut album N.E. Ideas? on September 11.
It’s available now as a Spotify pre-save.
