Shock Treatment

Krizz Kaliko may be the most animated, outlandish character in the Strange Music family, hip-hop’s most animated, outlandish clique. Shock Treatment ignites with the ferocious “Simon Says” and refuses to let up. These 17 songs are more than loud — they’re huge, in-your-face, bombastic anthems. And yet, rather than accost the listener, each song is an invitation to party. In fact, Shock Treatment can be seen as the Strange Music’s gloriously skewed interpretation of modern pop music. “Get Around,” “One of Them Ones” and “Freaks” take the four-on-the-floor club songs of pop stars like Rihanna and Lady Gaga, and run them through the Strange Family funhouse. Of course, there is a healthy dose of purely rowdy rap music, exemplified by the monstrous “Hard Core.” Elements of heavy metal and techno are thrown in to up the energy level, with Krizz always leading the charge. Tech N9ne is still ringleader of this posse, but this is the first album where Krizz looks like he could soon take the throne. As always, the crew lives up to its independent label ethos. Rather than pander to the masses, Shock Treatment reforms the mainstream in its own image.