Many New York and Philadelphia rappers have been quick to express their disdain for southeastern bass music, which they see as an unintelligent, lowest-common-denominator style of rap. But let them say what they will -- bass has been incredibly popular in the 1980s and '90s (especially in the South), and a lot of it has been undeniably infectious. Recorded in Southern Florida, this CD by the obscure duo
Eerk & Jerk isn't a masterpiece and is far from the definitive bass recording. But it's a fun, if uneven, party album, and the Florida rappers come up with some catchy grooves on tunes like "Daisy Dukes," "A Dead Broke Adventure," and "Homey Don't Play That."
Eerk & Jerk steer clear of weighty subject matter -- their main concerns on this album include dancing, loud parties, and young women in tight-fitting cut-off shorts. Some of the material is really too slow to be considered bass, but for the most part, it's clear that
Dead Broke is a product of the Florida rap scene of the early '90s. ~ Alex Henderson