CD Reviews

Daniel Laurent

The Suppression | Self Made Entertainment

By MATTHEW M. BURKE | May 17, 2006

3.0 Stars

Daniel Laurent
HEAVY-HITTERS: Laurent moves into Boston's hip-hop elite

On his sophomore effort, local rapper Daniel Laurent bares his soul and offers good advice to young kids without sacrificing his street cred. It was the single “Masterpiece,” a Boston anthem that samples the theme from Cheers, that chiseled a foothold for this socially conscious ’hood philosopher’s 2003 debut, Can’t Get a Break. Laurent steps up his production game here, and some tracks are infused with funk and jazz. On “Last Request,” he contemplates his mortality, setting his last wishes to an eerie beat that features Asian-flavored pipes. “Millbury Plain” has guest verses by Lyrical and Jake the Snake; Cekret Society and the Foundation Movement also drop memorable cameos, and there’s a bonus DVD of live performances and interviews with Boston hip-hop’s heavy hitters. With the release of The Suppression, Laurent becomes a member of that club.

On the Web
Daniel Laurent: http://www.daniellaurent.com/timeisnow.cfm