Minneapolis’s own American Gangster: Record review of “Pride” by Brinks

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Late this year, film critics and music reviewers alike praised the motion picture American Gangster along with Jay-Z’s album of the same name, inspired by the movie. A couple weeks earlier, a Minneapolis hip-hop emcee named Antwoyn Spencer, aka “Twig” and now “Brinks,” was found guilty in federal court of dealing cocaine and laundering money, in connection with Harold’s Chicken Shack in north Minneapolis.

Few seemed to recognize the parallels.

Brinks’ indie-label album, “Pride,” released on the streets and online in October, obviously didn’t attract the same swarm of national media attention as American Gangster. But locally, Brinks’ hip-hop group The StreetKingz garnered a buzz around the Twin Cities after appearing on several mix tapes while performing with RL of Next and JR Writer of the Diplomats. Within the 18 tracks of “Pride” rest pieces of future potential, assuming he’ll will be able to reclaim his focus after serving his time in federal lockup.

At its best, the album bigs up Minnesota, (notably on the string-heavy “Run This Town,” a re-tooled version of a track originally recorded as a posse cut with The StreetKingz); or during the braggadocios, ode to your swagger, “Cocky.” The sinister hook of the beat on “Under Pressure” brilliantly accompanies the introspective, tales of the street lyrics.

For an inde-artist, it’s rare to see such a polished finished product like “Pride,” don’t expect to hear any tape-hissing or a CD-R with Sharpie ink informing you of the artist’s name. Which again, makes sense after one reads the Star Tribune articles.

But at its worst, “Pride” falls into the typical trend of sub par hip-hop records that say too much of nothing and end up yapping about cars, drugs, money and women; ironically the things that led to Brinks’ apparent downfall. See: “Drinks on Brinks.”

Now, I’m not here to condemn or praise the man for his actions – the federal jury has already done that effectively enough. But “Pride” contains flashes of unbridled promise during its best moments.

For a hip-hop emcee, the story, the come up, is the most integral aspect to launching a career. Look at the top of the charts these days: 50 Cent (shot nine times), Kanye West (survived a near-fatal car crash), The Game (shot at his home, had a well-publicized beef with 50 Cent), Akon (locked up after stealing cars), Jay-Z (apparently moved weight before turning to music), Lil Wayne (shot himself with a Glock at 12. Wikipedia wrongly lists it as a .44 Magnum, but this Rolling Stone article shows the correct information. He didn’t know the chamber of the Glock also held a bullet.)

But see the point? To break into the game, a story helps.

Behind nearly every great artist is a story of tremendous heartbreak, misfortune or disillusion. Some think suffering is how they are able to record such great music, paint such vibrant pictures, or write such engrossing novels.

Moments like the end of “Pray for Me:” “I don’t want no problems, I just want to hustle / But it seems like my swag is a magnet for a trouble / Forgive me Lord for I have sinned / But the judgment is in and the bullet’s in the wind” are exactly the type of personal, self-questioning work that could get Brinks noticed someday.

Now he just needs to harness the anguish currently in his life, scribe it on his notepad and get it across on wax: the rise, the downfall, and living behind bars with his daughter on the outside. Star Trib and “bid” rhyme way too easily to not be a hook of a future track. Jay-Z might have received all the accolades for his “tales from the street,” but mostly it was a lot of millionaire posturing and check signing.

Where were the actual storytelling cuts about when the cops broke down his entire empire? What number is the song with Jigga’s thoughts in the courtroom when he was facing years in prison because of his drug trafficking? Oh, that’s right. That story isn’t his.

But it does belong to Brinks. Here’s hoping we hear it on his next release.

♫ ♫ ♫ ♫

Suggested listening from “Pride”: “Run This Town,” “Cocky,” “Pride,” “Under Pressure.” Further listening: StreetKingz – “Whips So Clean,” “I Shine” and “Game Time,” featuring the DipSet’s JR Writer and the lyric: “We like the ’94 Timberwolves, we ballin’ with a JR Writer (Rider).” To listen to Brinks and the StreetKingz, or to read Star Tribune articles about the court case and jailhouse letters from Brinks, visit: http://www.myspace.com/brinks612 and http://www.myspace.com/thestreetkingz.

Original version of “Run This Town”:

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