B. Dolan: Fallen House, Sunken City (Strange Famous, 3/2/10)
B. Dolan: “The Reptilian Agenda”
[audio:http://alarm-magazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/B_Dolan_Reptilian_Agenda.mp3|titles=B. Dolan: “Reptilian Agenda”]
Going way back with Sage Francis, rapper B. Dolan is a like-minded MC and slam poet whose style isn’t terribly dissimilar to that of his long-time friend. Fallen House, Sunken City is Dolan’s second full-length for Strange Famous, and it’s full of the sociopolitical themes (if often in quick blasts or asides) and contentious delivery for which he’s known.
In addition to some seemingly personal lyrics, Dolan takes passing shots at big business, taxation, the pharmaceutical industry, the concept of ownership of natural resources, the Israeli razing of Palestinian developments, and, among many other things, the so-called New World Order — dropping clips of Dick Cheney and George H.W. Bush in “The Reptilian Agenda.” On top of Dolan’s socially conscious rhymes, A-list production by Alias makes this one of the year’s top hip-hop releases.