Abdominal: Escaping the Pigeon Hole

Working with the likes of Southampton born DJ Format and southern Californian rappers Ugly Duckling, the Toronto-born Andy Bernstein has moved quickly up the hip hop ladder. Having previously never moved beyond the collaborative realm, most notably appearing on DJ Format's Music for the Mature B-Boy (2003) and If You Can't Join 'Em... Beat 'Em (2005), Escape from the Pigeon Hole is his first unaccompanied release.

"This is my first solo album, so I wanted to use it as an opportunity to showcase a more complete picture of me as an artist. In my past work I feel I've been 'pigeon-holed' to specific sounds just by the nature of the projects I've been involved with, hence my 'escape from the pigeon hole'."

What was it like to work on your first solo project and did you feel any pressure to deliver?

"Not particularly, so it was liberating as I didn't have to make any creative compromises. I always approach my music with an attitude of have fun and stick to my vision first, commerce second. I make the music I want to make and have faith that other people will be interested in it." The album has a healthy mix of up-tempo instrumentals, jazzy beats and satirical lyrics. Watch out for the number of references to a McDonald's Big Mac on his lampooning tune, Big Track. With humour representative of the album as a whole, Abdominal claims that McDonald's will give an emcee 50 cents every time the phrase Big Mac is said in one of their songs played on the radio. We counted 17 in the song Big Track.

We ask if his subject matter is based on real life experiences or if he writes and sees what ends up on paper?

"More than anything the beat dictates what I write about. 98 percent of the time, I get the instrumental track from the producer first, and then start writing. So the mood of the music obviously influences what direction I take, as far as the subject matter of the lyrics. But yeah, I often put a lot of my own life into my songs. For example, the track Open Relationship is autobiographical. That said, other times I just want to mess around with wordplay and flows, and I don't really delve too deep as far as life experiences go, as on Abdominal Workout. So no set formula to be honest."

Making sure the quality of beats match the lyrics, Abdominal wisely enlisted the services of some of music's funkiest hip hoppers. DJ Dopey, Ugly Duckling's Young Einstein, DJ Format, DJ Fase and Jurassic 5's Cut Chemist all leave tell-tale beats dotted throughout the album. Abdominal explains; "Most of those songs I rapped on the Format records were up-tempo, 'old school' type of tracks, which I love, but I also like rappin' over other kinds of beats, so I wanted to give the tracks some variety." Format fans will know that Mr Bernstein has an incredible lung capacity or as he says in his own words, "I come packed with more lung power than a bellowing elephant." Breathe Later shows off the best of Abdominal's B-Boy abilities and even has a cheeky cut from the mighty A Tribe Called Quest. With lines like "making auctioneers seem mute by comparison / the weight a lotta rappers be punchin' in it's embarrassing" he trys to demonstrate his claim to the biggest lungs in hip hop. Open Relationship provides some of Ab's desired beat variation. Over a melancholy rose riff the sexy voice of Elizabeth Shepherd compliments the slower more soulful rapping of Abdominal as he tells of nights alone and the problems of an open relationship.

The head bopping T-Ode is dedicated to Abdominal's home city of Toronto ("you couldn't pick a better city to call home"). The track takes civic pride to a new level with its intro from city Mayor David Miller, walking a cheesy tightrope, but Abs falls off on the right side. On Pedal Pusher, Ugly Duckling's Young Einstein conjures up a polished piano loop and speedy old-school break with some well-placed lyrical samples from Salt and Pepper. Abdominal has filled his debut release with just the right mix of fast and slow, silly and serious, and as such the album is considerably enjoyable. If you're a fan of funky, clever hip hop or anything by Format or J5, Escape from the Pigeon Hole is well worth a listen. No tour dates have been confirmed as of yet so keep an eye on The Skinny website for updates!