by Jessica Del Curto
Daily Lobo
Dirtheadz stormed the Albuquerque music scene several years ago, shaking the city with their polished beats and addictive hooks.
Then the hip-hop group seemed to fall of the planet.
The lineup kept changing, promised albums were never released and previous members performed under the same name, confusing fans.
Alas, The Movement, Dirtheadz's long-awaited debut album, is complete. The group has taken its head out of the sand, and the highly anticipated full-length release is a quality effort.
Minus three of the original members, Rick Artiaga, Steve Rodriguez and Matt Pruitt now make up Dirtheadz.
The Movement is rich in topics of politics, love and the day-to-day struggles of the Albuquerque MC's. Artiaga and Pruitt's deeper octaves contrast Rodriguez's sped up, higher-pitched flow.
The problem with the new lineup is that it's impossible not to compare it to the Dirtheadz of a few years ago. The formula that made Dirtheadz stand out among the hundreds of other hip-hoppers trying to make it in this town was the genuine individual talent each member brought to the collective sound of the group.
The beats of DJ Noble, or Eddie Madrid, were beautiful - catchy enough to get radio play but innovative enough to be called underground. And without the island sounds of Kev Lee, an original member of Dirtheadz who broke apart from the group and is now a solo reggae artist, the group just doesn't sound the same.
But sometimes change is better, and after the listener gets used to the new Dirtheadz, it's apparent that the chemistry is still there. The Movement is a gem that sparkles among the hordes of local hip-hop albums that have dropped in recent years.
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Standout tracks are "Me and My Mic," an ode to the relationship between hip-hop and the artist. The beat is sampled from LL Cool J's 1995 release "Hey Lover" and is fitting for the relentless dedication this group feels toward the music that moves them.
Former Dirtheadz member Gary Allison and singer Mz. Burd guest star on "Tobasco," a song about the Land of Enchantment. They provide an inventive spin on the atmosphere of Albuquerque, backboned by a beat reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest's "Left My Wallet in El Segundo." With verses about New Mexico sunsets, keg parties, and drinking sangria with se§oritas, it's a Southwest anthem with a hook that will undoubtedly spread like tumbleweeds among the group's followers.
The Dirtheadz haven't lost their ability to write quality and punchy hooks, and aren't afraid to employ female vocalists that appeal to the sensitive crowd. The Movement is an intelligent, conscious, groovable and well-rounded hip-hop album.
The true test will be its ability to hype the crowd during live shows, since the original Dirtheadz managed to get people up and dancing no matter how tough an audience. Judging by their album, this won't be a problem for these desert dwellers.
