Code Red's "All Aboard"

The evolution of rap music since the early 1990s has been mostly a regression into songs about big booties, bling bling, and hot rides. Acts like Lil' John and Chingy have left much to be desired in terms of creating a genre of music that is both entertaining (without resorting to innuendo and excessive swearing) and socially conscious (without being too preachy). Wyclef Jean is one artist in particular that has been an exception, with his consistent message against poverty and racial injustice. One more contender may be in the making, with the hot new group Code Red debuting with their CD, "All Aboard." Certainly, Code Red is not totally innocent of the types of rap music excesses I mentioned before. This group from Louisville does a better job than most in their debut of staying clear of the bling bling, talking about real issues while mixing in some songs about having a good time.

The core members of Code Red, rapper El One and reggae artist Junior Dread, capitalize on the recent success of rap-reggae artists like Sean Paul without repeating the same formula. Code Red seems to be a mixture of Outkast, Sean Paul, and Wyclef Jean with their unique rhythms and explosive lyrics. In songs like "Elbow Room" and "Let Yo Hair Down," Code Red is celebrating without gloating, highlighting the better parts of life without rubbing gold teeth and diamonds in your face. In fact, "Let Yo Hair Down" is reminiscent of Outkast, which is a considerable compliment for a group making its debut. "Pimp It Out" is a solid song that is reminiscent of Sean Paul-style reggae rap and is a good song in the bar and at parties. There is no shortage of songs that can be played in dance clubs on "All Aboard."

It isn't all fun and games on "All Aboard," however. Both El One and Junior Dread are military veterans and the song "Atomic" is a reggae-driven rap song that speaks to the effects of war on the families of soldiers. "Atomic" is a well-constructed song and it takes a listen or two to catch the general message that war damages the fiber of communities around American and the world. Code Red deals with racial stereotypes and tensions in "Brother Louie," a song about a white man dating a black woman. The song goes through all of the tensions that happen with interracial dating, including anger by black man that a black woman would be a traitor to her race. While only a few songs on this record deal with social issues, Code Red seems to pick the ones they are most familiar with. The final product is a good song with a genuine message that comes from real experience.

Rappers with a message have come and gone, but a few hang around. Like Wyclef, Code Red stands a good chance of staying in the mainstream rap industry for years to come. Their mixture of reggae and rap is popular now and has been a part of the rap tapestry for the last two decades, so their style won't go out with the next generation of rapper. While they may remain on a small island of rappers who don't wholly embrace the superficial lifestyle of their peers, Code Red has certainly made a splash with "All Aboard" and they have the credibility to change a few minds in the process of becoming famous.