Since I haven't blogged in the Hip Hop Fan Group in some time I suddenly decided to do a quick little something on the Flobots and their first mainstream album release Fight With Tools.  The Colorado based group was picked up by Universal Records and boasts one of the greatest songs this hip hop enthusiast has EVER listened to in "Handlebars".  I've heard "California Love" by Pac and the Doc, I love the Wu-Tang hit "Wu-Tang Clan Ain't Nuthin' Ta F'Wit", and Lupe Fiasco's "Dumb It Down" is just beast.  There are, of course, FAR more amazing songs I've enjoyed over the last 4 or 5 years of my rap/hip hop fandom.  I've been delving into past music more and more recently including older Tupac albums, Wu-Tang Clan, The Roots, and others.  I despise the fact that snap music (i.e. Soulja Boy) has overtaken the industry, which is why the Flobots Fight With Tools was a breath of fresh air.  This isn't to say that the entire industry is filled with crap, in fact there are many great artists out there (Chamillionaire, Bun B, Ludacris, Kanye West, etc.).  However, the Flobots, led by lyricists Jonny 5 and Brer Rabbit (as well as violist Mackenzie Roberts, bassist Jesse Walker, guitarist Andy Guerrero, trumpet player Joe Ferrone, and drummer Kenny Ortiz), are a great example of rap at its finest...with the inclusion of rock.

The sub-genre Rap-Rock has seen its fair share of great acts like Public Enemy, the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park, N.E.R.D., and more, but Flobots are just something...different.  They are sometimes classified as something different...as indie hip hop.  This may be true, but must EVERYTHING that has political views and makes its attempts to showcase an opinion be called "indie"?

If you've heard "Handlebars" you probably loved it, but half the tracks on Fight With Tools are just as good while some are even better than "Handlebars".

I'll let you, as a reader and someone with an opinion, make the decisions on this group as I leave you with these songs.

"Stand Up"

"Same Thing"

"Fight With Tools"

"Combat"