Various Artists Motivate Movement Installment One: Asiatic

• Words: DJ Anna
• Label: Motivate Movement

This compilation is first in a series of projects put out by Motivate Movement, a hip-hop collective dedicated to both preserving the memory of slain Bay Area graffiti artist Michael "DREAM" Francisco and supporting positive hip-hop. Overall, the CD is impressive, containing great production, awesome cuts and some real nice rhymes from a slew of Asian-American artists and their collaborators, representing East Coast, West Coast and in between. Organic Thoughts featuring U.N.I.Q bring a lil' funkjazzynastiness with "All Too Easy," and lyrical master MC Zion of Zion I fame blesses a track produced by world champion turntablist Vinroc in "Ghost in a Shell." A real stand-out is the lovely and poetic "On God's Path" by Poet Named Life, featuring abstract rap vet Divine Styler and Takbir of Styles of Beyond. It's also a treat to hear all the female talent in the mix, from the dope emcee styles of Golda.Supernova ("Growing Process") to the tough sound of La Bruja ("Bru Who").