For most, the idea of relating rap music to comics seems…unusual to say the least. However, it is hardly unheard of. On Recovery, Eminem drops multiple comic-friendly rhymes with references from Superman and Lois Lane to Aquaman to Spider-Man, and. DJ Green Lantern pulls his name from a DC comic that is about to be made into a film starring Ryan Reynolds. Ghostface Killa’s debut solo album Ironman refers to the Marvel Comics hero whose film dominated this summer’s box office receipts. Rap music is by far the most pop culturally informed genre of music and, as such, it should be no surprise that super heroes get their lyrical due alongside the likes of Scarface, the Goodfellas, and other rappers.
Looking to make that connection even more explicit is Adam WarRock (aka Eugene Ahn) with his recent offering, the West Coast Avengers Mixtape. For those not as well versed in comic book lore, the West Coast Avengers were a super hero team in the Marvel Universe featuring well known members such as Iron Man and War Machine alongside more obscure heroes like the Vision and Darkhawk. As opposed to their sister team, the Avengers, who stuck to NYC as their base of operations like the majority of Marvel’s heroes, the WCA spent most of the 80’s and some of the 90’s, patrolling the California coast line. While eventually succumbing to poor sales and a desire to consolidate the Avengers line, the WCA often gave their east coast counterparts a run for their money in the sales department. As such, many fans maintain warm feelings for the team to this day.
While that might provide some of the marketing for WarRock’s album, the rapper has no interest in offering up a simple shot of comic nostalgia delivered via a rap album. Yes, the majority of the tracks are named for WCA team members, but one should not expect origin stories or storyline recaps.
In fact, the mixtape is at its best when it utilizes the character as a leaping off point rather than the end-all, be-all for the track. For instance, “War Machine” focuses on the war part of the name to deliver a story about the process of becoming a soldier and then having to reintegrate into society. “Living Lightning” uses the character’s sexuality to deliver a scathing indictment of California’s Prop 8 and other DOMA-esque efforts. As a counterbalance to these more downcast perspectives on the US’s current predicaments, WarRock assumes the perspective of ultra-patriot John Walker on “USAgent” to argue for the inherent goodness of America and that we will overcome whatever ills plague us now, as we always have done.
The closer the rapper gets to the source material, the less the album offers a universal payoff for listeners. “Tigra and Firebird,” a song described as “pointless” in its very lyrics, is an effervescent track about the titular heroes balancing shopping, eating, and a super villain attack. It is not deep by any definition and references to Terrax will probably boggle most. However, WarRock’s quick tongue (with seemingly no breaks for breath) is something to be enjoyed. A song like “Darkhawk,” on the other hand, might not connect with anyone without a strong comic book background—although if you have that lines like, “And don’t confuse him like I used to do with Sleepwalker/Cuz Sleepwalker’s green and purple, and he’s sleepwalker” are sure to slay you. Most, regardless of their comic acumen, will probably be unmoved by “Hawkeye & Mockingbird.” The track offers far too little lyrical difference from its sample beat, Jay-Z and Beyonce’s “’03 Bonnie and Clyde” collaboration, to be considered anything more than a perspective-less parody. Parody is fine, but the rest of the mixtape makes it clear that WarRock could manage a better parody track than this limp offering.
Overall, it is an entertaining work that offers for at least a track or two for any listener who is looking for something a little different in the rap genre. Although comic book fans are primed to connect with the material and thus probably enjoy it more, or, at least more easily, I think novices will still find enough here to justify the brief download.
Best Tracks: “War Machine” “Living Lightning” “USAgent” “Vision”
Fun for Comic Fans, Others Maybe Not: “T.O.Y. (Team of the Year)” “Darkhawk”
Disappointments: “Hawkeye & Mockingbird”
The West Coast Avengers Mixtape is available for free download at Comics Alliance.
Other examples of WarRock’s music are available at his site. I recommend checking out “I Believe in Harvey Dent” (for free!) and Ira Glass (for cheap!) to start.
Adam WarRock’s newest album, The War for Infinity, comes out this Thursday, October 7, and can be ordered from his site that day.
As always Tim Stevens can be reached at parallax2 [at] juno [dot] com, followed on Twitter at UnGajje, or friended on Facebook. Please feel free to do so or comment below on this or any other Complaint of the Week.