Coley Cole "Goldplated Straitjackets"
as Reviewed by Kendra Macleod

  
Part of the Lost and Found Generation putting Santa Cruz on the map as an up-and-coming hip-hop community, Coley Cole might just be the region’s enigmatic ingénue. Lacing philosophical lyrics over flawless tracks, Goldplated Straightjackets is an unexpected surprise coming way out of left field, but will be sure to delight hip-hop heads of all kinds. Cole produced all but two tracks on the LP, showing off his immaculate production skills and uncanny ability to create consistently commanding verses and beats. His choice of featured artists, ranging from Aesop of Living Legends to Grayskul, doesn’t serve as a gimmick or distraction, but builds around the LP’s solid core. The music is hard-hitting yet intricate, especially on the first single, “Goldplated Hustla.” Cole builds on an already solid beat by incorporating scratching, ambient sounds, and a little funk, creating a pastiche of all things that make hip-hop great. He also speaks his truth; there’s no sense of any studio gangsta-ism trying to appeal to the rap stereotypes that have become the cash cow of the industry. “I don’t hustle with guns and keys / I hustle with drums and beats” is the anthem on “Goldplated Hustla.” “The Eternal Curse” echoes the harrowing ills of our society, evoking emotion as the rapper navigates through the song. Cole switches brilliantly between lyrical styles, drumming up a fast Twista-like energy, and then slowing it down to emphasize his point. Basically the record is stellar, which is a rare occurrence in this world inundated with bad, poorly produced music by both well-known and unknown artists. Goldplated Straightjackets is definitely a dark horse in the running for best breakout album in 2005. It spits out raw talent like a wood-chipper, and any rap fan who knows what’s up will be awestruck for all 17 tracks. (Grad School Music)