MC Paul Barman - It's Very Stimulating (February 15, 2000)

I am fully prepared to take a lot of shit for this album. Paul Barman has been pigeonholed into the "nerdcore" rap category, and probably for good reason: his rhymes are fucking nerdy. They're so full of obscure references, from filmmakers to astrological charts, that it makes Ghostface Killah look as if he speaks the Queen's English. Barman's wordplay is awkward as hell, rambling all over the track, but it somehow works, maybe because some of his lyrics actually make serious points (such as the failure of the public school system, for instance), even though they are hilarious.

People make a big deal about the fact that he's Jewish and an Ivy League graduate; I choose to make fun of the corny-ass album cover. Besides, the Ivy League-comedian thing is old hat by now (I see you, Conan).

I picked up It's Very Stimulating thanks to the contributions of a different Paul: Prince Paul, of early De La Soul, Stetsasonic, and Handsome Boy Modeling School fame (as I wrote in an earlier post, he's one of my favorite producers ever). It was released on Wordsound, Prince Paul's vanity label (which, to the shock of nobody, is no longer around). Prince Paul produced all six tracks on this eighteen minute album, and as odd as this sounds, it feels as if it's just the right length.

Also: I don't know why this matters, but the album comes with the lyrics. I know, unheard of in hip hop, right?

1. AN INTRODUCTION
Yeah, rap album intro. However, he uses the word "extrapolate", which was unexpected on a rap album (but I guess expected for an Ivy League graduate?).

2. THE JOY OF YOUR WORLD
The instrumental wouldn't sound out of place in an old-school Disney movie. I like the "If you want sex with me, be prepared for bad sex, and slapstick" line; c'mon, it's funny.

3. SCHOOL ANTHEM
Probably won't be played at any high school football game anytime soon.

4. SALVATION BARMY
My favorite track off of this EP. Barman's lack of breath control is highly evident on this track, but I'll chalk it up to inexperience.

5. I'M FRICKING AWESOME
Um...yeah, I got nothing.

6. MTV GET OFF THE AIR, PT. 2 (FEAT PRINCESS SUPERSTAR)
Only God and Prince Paul know what happened to Part One.

FINAL THOUGHTS: It's Very Stimulating is entertaining (and short, which is a plus), especially for fans of both emo rap (Atmosphere, etc.) and other nerdcore rappers (like MC Chris of Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Sealab 2021 fame). For the instrumental freaks like myself, the Prince Paul shit here is fricking awesome.

BUY OR BURN? Tough to say, as this is out of print, but if you can find this anywhere used, spend the money. It may look strange next to your Wu-Tang and Tribe albums, but then again, what the hell are you doing putting this next to those artists? MC Paul Barman starts with an M.

BEST TRACKS: "Salvation Barmy"; "I'm Fricking Awesome"

-Max