This album was as much about Liam Howlett's reshaping the sound of Prodigy
as it was about telling the world to lick his big hanging brass ones.
Malcontent to watch the dance culture he helped to found and solidfy
become as accessible and mindless as a mall, Howlett produced Fat to shock
the mainstream in order to push their curiosity away. Thankfully, in
doing so, Howlett, his eccentric rap squad, and various guests made a
record that hugs the gutter and convinces everyone to pass out there with
them after they've raved the night away.
"Smack My Bitch Up" is meant to be an affront to those with the desire to
adopt "electronica" as their musical flavor of the month. Too bad for
Howlett's already suffering reputation in the dance community that the
kids in America embraced it, like most kids do in order to piss off their
parents. Where rock was failing desperately in conveying rebellion, one
listen to the chaos of "Smack" is all that Howlett needed to create to make a hit record that kids would snap up by the dozens.
The entire record spews venom. The beats are fast, fierce, furious, and
funky. The rapping ranges from punkish sneer ("Serial Thrilla") to
transcendental force (Kool Keith's turn on "Diesel Power"). By bringing
Flint up front with Maxim on vocals, Prodigy gained a voice which, when
heard, warranted listeners to pay attention. Flint may be a rapper in
need of some lessons (and some cred would do nicely too), but you don't
forget his overtly British delivery. "Firestarter" and "Breathe" belong
as much to Flint as Howlett.
While Prodigy could very well have made a record with only samples and/or
raps from Flint or Maxim, there are some key collaborations that prove
Howlett's brilliance behind the boards. Who else can bring together a
hard core old school rapper like Kool Keith, Kula
Shaker's kooky Hindu guru wanna-be Crispian Mills ("Narayan"), and
Republica's cheeky rock chick Saffron ("Fuel My Fire") and make it all
work in the context of one record? Even if Howlett's cool kid pose and
sneer is fake, and it hides his true ambition for world domination, the
simple truth is that the man knows how to make people dance, and this is
the record which made it public knowledge outside of Europe.
If you like Prodigy, check out:
Prodigy Music For The Jilted Generation
Beastie Boys Check Your Head
The Sex Pistols Never Mind The Bollocks
