Repeating the trend they started on 2009’s I’m Not a Fan…But the Kids Like It!, Brokencyde deliver another hot mess of crunkcore with the hater-taunting title Will Never Die. Like their last album, this new effort finds the band once again mixing club jams with youthful, Auto-Tuned rage to create something that sounds like the aftermath of a bus crash involving Akon, Lil Jon, and a van full of scene kids. This combination creates something that’s party music in almost its purest form, but it’s hard to know what the band’s intentions are. The songs feel like they come from a place of pure irony, giving the listener pause as they try to decide whether Brokencyde are making fun of crunk, themselves, or the people who will get down to their superficial party jams. While having a bunch of kids in Day-Glo hoodies doing their best Lil Jon impression while screaming “You ain’t crunk” may be a bit confusing, the band manages a moment of musical clarity on “High Timez.” Featuring Daddy X of spiritual ancestors Kottonmouth Kings, the song takes a step away from the club banger sound in favor of a blunted-out reggae-rap sound that comes together surprisingly well. If you’re already a fan of these guys, Will Never Die will deliver more of the same old Brokencyde, but if you’re new to the band or just looking to see what crunk is all about, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Crunk Juice instead.
© Gregory Heaney /TiVo