Rhyme Book
Encyclopedia
Rhyme Book is the second studio album by New Zealand
rapper Scribe
. It follows on from his 2003 award winning album, The Crusader. It was released on 29 September 2007.
Scott Kara, Scribe said, "I really put a lot of thought into [Rhyme Book] and because I'd come from Scribe the rap star, I really wanted this album to be Scribe the dude next door. The real me rather than the guy on TV."
Musically, he wanted to record "a lot of different kinds of songs so in a way there's something in there for everyone. It's like a box of chocolates."
On Breakfast, Scribe said that "it's a good collection of...different types of hip hop...that's why I called it Rhyme Book because it kinda represents my rhyme book." He also wanted to show his growth and flexibility as an artist since The Crusader with different types of songs.
Dirty Records
and Warner Music
released the album in New Zealand and Australia on 29 September 2007.
said that Rhyme Book was not of the same calibre as The Crusader, but called it "a quality album that exposes a more thoughtful scribe on Scribe". The reviewer from The Dominion Post
was let down, and viewed the album as "a desperate attempt to be considered the Aotearoa
version of Kanye West
," and rated it two stars out of five."
Rhyme Book won the Best Pacific Male Artist Award at the 2008 Pacific Music Awards, and the award for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at the 2008 New Zealand Music Awards
. It was also nominated as the Album of the Year, losing to Flight of the Conchords
' self-titled, debut album
.
, slipping to number eighteen the next week. After a total of four weeks in the top fifty, it fell off the chart.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rapper Scribe
Scribe (rapper)
Malo Luafutu better known by his stage name Scribe, is a New Zealand hip hop rapper and recording artist of Samoan descent...
. It follows on from his 2003 award winning album, The Crusader. It was released on 29 September 2007.
Background and release
In an interview with The New Zealand HeraldThe New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
Scott Kara, Scribe said, "I really put a lot of thought into [Rhyme Book] and because I'd come from Scribe the rap star, I really wanted this album to be Scribe the dude next door. The real me rather than the guy on TV."
Musically, he wanted to record "a lot of different kinds of songs so in a way there's something in there for everyone. It's like a box of chocolates."
On Breakfast, Scribe said that "it's a good collection of...different types of hip hop...that's why I called it Rhyme Book because it kinda represents my rhyme book." He also wanted to show his growth and flexibility as an artist since The Crusader with different types of songs.
Dirty Records
Dirty Records
Dirty Records is a New Zealand hip hop label. The label is based in Auckland, New Zealand, and was founded in 2001 by hip hop producer Pete Wadams and business partner Callum August....
and Warner Music
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
released the album in New Zealand and Australia on 29 September 2007.
Critical reception
Rhyme Book received mixed reviews from critics. Allmusic's Jody Macgregor gave the album three-and-a-half out of five stars, describing it as "world-class, almost" because of a "few songs [that] hold Rhyme Book back from being a real classic". Rebecca Barry of The New Zealand HeraldThe New Zealand Herald
- External links :* * *...
said that Rhyme Book was not of the same calibre as The Crusader, but called it "a quality album that exposes a more thoughtful scribe on Scribe". The reviewer from The Dominion Post
The Dominion Post (Wellington)
The Dominion Post is a metropolitan broadsheet newspaper published in Wellington, New Zealand, owned by the Australian Fairfax group, owners of The Age, Melbourne, and The Sydney Morning Herald.- Foundation :...
was let down, and viewed the album as "a desperate attempt to be considered the Aotearoa
Aotearoa
Aotearoa is the most widely known and accepted Māori name for New Zealand. It is used by both Māori and non-Māori, and is becoming increasingly widespread in the bilingual names of national organisations, such as the National Library of New Zealand / Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa.-Translation:The...
version of Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
," and rated it two stars out of five."
Rhyme Book won the Best Pacific Male Artist Award at the 2008 Pacific Music Awards, and the award for Best Urban/Hip Hop Album at the 2008 New Zealand Music Awards
New Zealand Music Awards
The New Zealand Music Awards show, is a major annual New Zealand music event where musical acts and singers are awarded each year. It has occurred every year since 1965 to outstanding New Zealand musicians and groups....
. It was also nominated as the Album of the Year, losing to Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords
Flight of the Conchords are a New Zealand-based comedy duo composed of Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement. The duo's comedy and music became the basis of a BBC radio series and then an American television series, which premiered in 2007 on HBO, also called Flight of the Conchords.They were named...
' self-titled, debut album
Flight of the Conchords (album)
-Personnel:*All songs written and performed by Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie*Sara Johnson - vocals on "Foux du Fafa"*Robin Lynn - keys on "Foux du Fafa," "Think About It" and "The Most Beautiful Girl "...
.
Commercial reception
Rhyme Book debuted on the New Zealand Albums Chart at its peak position of number four, and spent a total of four weeks on the top forty chart. In Australia, the album debuted at number nine of the Australian Albums ChartARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
, slipping to number eighteen the next week. After a total of four weeks in the top fifty, it fell off the chart.