PARIS - Sleeping With The Enemy

Artist:  Paris

Album: Sleeping With The Enemy

Year:  1992

Genre:  Hip Hop

I won’t sit here and write some false pretense about how deep I am in the hip hop scene.  I’m not.  With that said, I love when hip hop gets aggressive.  Give me energetic grooves, bass drop backgrounds, synth accompaniment and a raucous MC with cool tone, timing and context.  I am not one for slow rhythms or a heavy R&B influence.  Paris is an extremely competent composer and has major vocalization talent.  More importantly, this record lights a fire inside of me every time I listen to it and reminds me to get off my complacent ass and be aware of politics and social issues that effect me, my family, my friends and my community.  Being a fan of bellicose music, this record speaks volumes to me.  Paris is enraged and what he was spewing 25 years ago is just as relevant as it is today.  When I listen to this album, I think of the timeline that has passed since 1992.  It presents a doomed reflection of society as I realize nothing has changed.  Paris has a message and a mission; to call out societal atrocities along with governmental failures and crimes.  He does not relent and his combative mentality is compelling and inspiring.  There is no hidden message.  There is no sugar coating.  Much like the protest music of the 60s or the “Reagan years” of punk rock, he is creating awareness that is direct and unambiguous.  Artists like Paris are a necessity and more people in all styles of music need to take a lesson from him.  Oh, and yes, the whole album rules.

Listen to "Guerillas In The Mist" here.