The State of New York Vs. Derek Murphy

by Matt ConawayAfter reuniting in 1998 with his Brand Nubian brothers on the under-appreciated Foundation, Sadat X resurfaced last year with two collaborative gems; "1-9-9-9," featuring Common, and the previously vaulted "Come On," which was one of the few highlights from Biggie's disappointing posthumous release. While his solo-debut Wild Cowboys failed to strike a chord with the masses, Sadat shows signs that he may yet establish himself as a solo-vocalist with The State of New York Vs. Derek Murphy. He enlists a few familiar contributors (Diamond D, Minnesota) and some new ones as well (A Kid Called Roots, Dart La) to update his sound; a revision that is gratuitously bouncy, but light in substance. He basks in the glow of Diamond's sublime guitar riffs on the divine "You Can't Deny." But it is the lesser of their two groupings that supplies Sadat a taste of the commercial success that has alluded him with the Funk Flex endorsed "X-Man." While The State is remarkably short-winded (six tracks), this EP setting is more conducive to his unorthodox style, as it manages to evade the monotonous feel his solo-debut conveyed.