Taken from the name of an Ice Cube b-side, Skin brings theOGM and Yeti Bones together for 12 tracks of a high-octane fusion of hip-hop and punk rock. In true punk rock fashion, Ho99o9 recruited Travis Barker (Blink-182) to pull double duty for drums and production value. Following this vein, Skin features collaborations with some of Ho99o9’s biggest influences and supporters.
Before introducing some of those collaborations Ho99o9 take the time to give us the lay of the land themselves. Straight out the gate, ‘Nuge Snight’ has us on edge with uncomfortable cracking and feedback. As soon as the vocals come in, it becomes apparent we are in for a wild ride of anger and displeasure. The delivery is full of spite. Even when ‘Nuge Snight’ slows for what could be construed as a chorus, aggression is never far behind. If an opening track is a litmus test for the record ahead, the acidity of this sample is off the charts.
The acid corrodes into ‘Battery Not Included’. It begins with a deliciously ironic spoken word tirade against the use of “push button drum machines”. While it may smack of some metal purists in this day and age, ‘Battery Not Included’ goes to show these musical technologies have a place in our beloved metal. What’s served up to us is a song not too dissimilar to something from The Prodigy’s back catalogue. This bleeds into the first collaboration of the record: ‘Bite My Face’. Featuring Slipknot frontman Corey Taylor, ‘Bite My Face’ showcases the collision of typically hip-hop drums with fat metallic riffs done well. The track is ferocious in displaying the “Pitbull. Lockjaw” elements Ho99o9 boast in their verses. Yet it isn’t pedal to the metal constantly. A slower interlude gives a small moment of respite before Taylor gives a gruff scream and an explosion into a disgusting riff we can wholeheartedly get behind. If this features in the upcoming Knotfest Roadshow, we can only predict carnage in the best of ways.
As with any “fusion band”, there will be moments of flip flopping between the core elements. Where the opening three tracks provided a balance, ‘Slo Bread’ and ‘The World, The Flesh, The Devil’ are delightfully dark hip-hop at its best. ‘Slo Bread’ has a bass heavy beat any self-respecting music fan will want to play on a fully fleshed sound system. Ho99o9 fully lean into the intimidation style of rap only a select few can pull off well. The ebb and flow cadence of the verses should technically mean this isn’t a hype song. Yet the immaculate delivery of lines such as “I’m a menace to society” has the metaphorical monarch in us searching for our throne and taking down anyone who dare stand in our way. This flow of adrenaline continues with ‘The World, The Flesh, The Devil’ serving “hundred proof” insanity. What starts as a tune you could play in a room full of smoke which doesn’t come from cigarettes becomes a beautiful blend of what nu metal could have been.
“Hell never felt so good” comes the proclamation on ‘…Speak Of The Devil’. Surrounding the concept of a mental breakdown as it unfolds, the track languishes within the pools of grunge. While it dabbles within the realms of softer heavy metal at times ‘… Speak Of The Devil’’s bass heavy rhythm section makes for enticing dissociation. ‘Lower Than Scum’ lies on the other end of the spectrum. Catapulting themselves into the depths of metal Ho99o9 give us juicy riffs to salivate over. Given the track opens with a commentary about hardcore pornography, that reaction wouldn’t be too out of place. Whether “the devil in me” is in regard to being a fine specimen of a man or some kind of demonic possession will be up to you to interpret.
Where’s the punk rock portion of Ho99o9? Look no further than ‘Skinhead’. With its in-your-face screeching delivery against brash guitars, this ‘Skinhead’ came to brawl. Until it stops. The song slows for the inclusion of street poet Saul Williams. Williams’ verse is repeated several times during the song, but the first incantation features isolated vocals, forcing us to listen to this crisis of confidence. While this is unexpected, what is more punk than doing the unexpected? Does ‘Skinhead’ sit within the boundaries of punk? Housing frantic screaming about “poison in my veins” against a cacophony of noise, absolutely. But it doesn’t stay there. Swells of synth-like instruments sweep in for the disintegration. What we’re left with is Williams musing once more but to the sound of clicking as if trying to get a gas hob to ignite. A chilling end to a song of brutality.
As Skin comes to its end, we find it hard to encapsulate its ideology in a few short sentences. There is a lot of rage to Ho99o9. Some of it fuelled by mental health. Another facet comes from a “psycho with a badge”. Political unrest fuels a separate angle. Our summary arrives when we go back to where the album title came from. The full title of the Ice Cube track Ho99o9 refer to is ‘My Skin Is My Sin’. The racially charged lyrics of that song are ashamedly as relevant now as they were in 1993. Ho99o9 capitalise upon that with Skin. Their rage is unparalleled. The confidence in themselves and what they do is unmatched. It’s not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog. Ho99or’s fight carries the biggest balls in the room.