LA Symphony is one of the biggest and best underground hip hop collectives
on the planet. However, ever since their deal with Steve Taylor's Squint
Entertainment went sour, they have had trouble getting their rhymes and
beats out to the public. Thankfully, that has not stopped the solo members
from getting their craft out into the streets. One of the many emcees in the
group is Pigeon John, and his solo effort is now remastered and on a good
label, Syntax Records. Enjoy our review!

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PIGEON JOHN IS CLUELESS (2002)
by Jon Corbin

The bar is dimly lit as Pigeon John steps to the stage. Not so sharply
dressed and armed only with a guitar, the crowd's response to PJ is mixed at
best. John playfully banters with the crowd and between frantic shouts of
"I'll die for you" and telling the crowd to shut up, the LA Symphony emcee
moves into his delicate song "B." This song is the last track of the PJ
compilation album Pigeon John Is Clueless. One listen to this song will give
you a good idea of what the Pigeon is all about. "B" contains several
stories about John's life and his struggles. At times it is tenderly sung,
at others it is obnoxiously screamed at the top of his lungs. PJ (a.k.a.
John Dunkin) includes humourous lyrics and barely avoids being kicked off
stage before delivering an encouraging biblical principle. Such is an
experience with the most flamboyant member of LA Symphony. Clueless offers
us a full range of Pigeon John's emotions with a collection of 19 songs
recorded since 1998.

The opening song, "Clueless," presents Dunkin's honesty and willingness to
be real in front of his audience. Like many Christian emcees, PJ touches on
his financial struggles with tracks like "Payroll Professionals," "Los
Angeles Rap Music" and the soulful, downbeat "Eviction Notice." Underground
emcee Tapwater guests on "Passion," a tune with a laid back snare roll that
compliments a soft electric guitar riff and Pigeon's soothing vocals. The
highs of life are celebrated on the sleeper hit "Cry," where John states "I
feel so good I'm gonna cry."

His silly side comes through on many tracks including "The Cowboy Song" and
"Cheerleaders." The latter song is a source of controversy for the humble
emcee. Christian hip-hop's Bible thumpers take issue with the chorus that
says, "I'm in my mid-twenties / still dating cheerleaders." In works with LA
Symphony and his many guest appearances, Pigeon John has never been shy
about his reputation as a flirt. On this CD, there are many tracks dealing
with his desires for a girlfriend. "The Chase" tells a story of a girl he
dated that fell for someone in his crew, "Destruction" deals with the agony
of a recent break-up, and "6th and Alvarado" is a playful song about PJ
trying to court a young lady. Where are the references to God? Just like
Pigeon, his songs have many layers. Consider this lyric from "Cheerleaders:"
"Just wave your hands high if you realize / that Mr. Christ dies for
humanity's white lies / thinking we're all that but we're really all dirt /
with God's breath in us so it's Him I thirst."

It is Pigeon's attitude and flair that make this CD enjoyable. PJ shies away
from the hardcore approach and in fact mocks it in the sarcastic "I'm The
Best In The World." This track is one of three new songs (all produced by
Pigeon John) that have been added to this re-release. Here, Dunkin lashes
back at "hardcore" rappers that present a thug image. He makes it personal
by revealing that his mother was a victim of violence. The other two new
songs ("6th and Alvarado" and "The Heartbeat") display Pigeon John's talent
for hook writing and creative beats.

Clueless is not the best produced CD in the world. It does not have earth
shattering lyrics, nor will it be a huge commercial success. Then why is it
so good? Pigeon John is just real with us. He reveals all the insecurity,
pain, joy and laughter that goes into a vibrant life. His stories can touch
the listener and his jokes would make him the life of any party. Above all,
it is the final words heard on the final song "B" that bring Pigeon's real
message to the forefront. "You're fearfully and wonderfully made / don't be
dismayed my dear son."

Find more about Pigeon John at cMusicWeb.com:
http://cMusicWeb.com/hiphop/pigeonjohn


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