CHAUNDON

The likelihood of a crew maintaining its conjoined unity within the genre of Hip Hop often borders on an impossibility, as egos clash and personal motivations create complications far removed from the elements that initially bring teams together. Spearheaded by Little Brother (producer 9th Wonder and rappers Phonte and Rapper Big Pooh), North Carolina's now defunct Justus League is divided amongst themselves after winning the hearts of purists by putting a refreshing spin on rap's classic ambiance a decade ago. Bronx representer Chaundon has one of the former crew's most tenacious spirits, still aiming for glory with his latest release The Jammington.

Primarily recognized and acclaimed for his trademark razor sharp wit and humor laced punchlines, Chaundon balances this jovial nature with a number of other facets on The Jammington. It becomes quickly evident he carries the unmistakable pride of a native New Yorker with the album's opener "Skyline," demonstrating a determination to be remembered amongst the Big Apple's all time greats. To boot, DJs Flash and Skillz (not to be confused with the MC of the same moniker) pay homage to the legend of DJ Premier's rap vocal cutting technique, and guest features include the likes of Juice Crew veteran Craig G and rising Brooklyn sensation Von Pea of Tanya Morgan on "Possession" and "This Just In" respectively.

Chaundon's nickname "The Backtwista" boasts of an amorous prowess, highlighting the shameless exploits of a lothario on "Mandatory" and "BBW," an ode fetishizing ladies of greater proportion. These spirited jaunts are tempered by the levelheaded and soulful "Hindsight" which speaks of the Justus League's dissolution and "Loyalty Is Royalty", honoring those who have faithfully remained in the emcees' corner before and since the dawn of his professional music career.

The Jammington aims and succeeds at the model of quality over quantity, clocking in at under a half hour. This short length aside, the album further establishes Chaundon as a humorist and a wordsmith of repute, while simultaneously shedding light on that which grinds his gears as both an evolving man and an artist. - HipHopDX

Former Justus League affiliate and Bronx native Chaundon has developed an amazing chemistry with producer ATG, who has made an impact in 2012 producing for emcees such as Meyhem Lauren, Reks, and Fashawn. After releasing “The Jammington” last spring, the duo has put out a quickstrike EP, “By the Way” last week, a project that was actually recorded over six months ago. Chaundon, who now resides in North Carolina, traveled up to New York City to record the project in ATG’s apartment.

“By the Way” is a straightforward project, autobiographical in content. It brings the listener into the mindframe of where Chaundon stands at the present moment: a rap veteran transitioning into a new phase of his life, examining the opportunities he has at his disposal, the obstacles he has overcome in the past, and the circumstances of the people around him.

“Utensils,” the project’s closing track, sees the Bronx native rapping about the fork in the road that plagued him in the summer. He has a choice between staying in New York City and pursuing the opportunity at his disposal to take his career to the next level, or staying in North Carolina and maintaining his married life that he had worked so hard to build up and maintain. It’s a song that is vivid and brutally honest, and ultimately ends the project on a cliffhanger. Meanwhile, “2 Sides” sees Chaundon and featured guest Ea$y Money from Boston, sees both emcees talk about their experiences in the streets and ultimately, how the experience made them better individuals.

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Dharmic X's avatar
Overlooked: Chaundon “By the Way” EP (Album Review)
Posted by Dharmic X on 02/18/13 | Filed under Opinion, Album Reviews, Overlooked, Chaundon

Former Justus League affiliate and Bronx native Chaundon has developed an amazing chemistry with producer ATG, who has made an impact in 2012 producing for emcees such as Meyhem Lauren, Reks, and Fashawn. After releasing “The Jammington” last spring, the duo has put out a quickstrike EP, “By the Way” last week, a project that was actually recorded over six months ago. Chaundon, who now resides in North Carolina, traveled up to New York City to record the project in ATG’s apartment.

“By the Way” is a straightforward project, autobiographical in content. It brings the listener into the mindframe of where Chaundon stands at the present moment: a rap veteran transitioning into a new phase of his life, examining the opportunities he has at his disposal, the obstacles he has overcome in the past, and the circumstances of the people around him.

“Utensils,” the project’s closing track, sees the Bronx native rapping about the fork in the road that plagued him in the summer. He has a choice between staying in New York City and pursuing the opportunity at his disposal to take his career to the next level, or staying in North Carolina and maintaining his married life that he had worked so hard to build up and maintain. It’s a song that is vivid and brutally honest, and ultimately ends the project on a cliffhanger. Meanwhile, “2 Sides” sees Chaundon and featured guest Ea$y Money from Boston, sees both emcees talk about their experiences in the streets and ultimately, how the experience made them better individuals.




Chaundon approaches each track with the right concept and has lyrical ability, but ATG’s production is damn near flawless throughout. The beat for “Thndr” starts off with a soulful intro that sets up a rumbling banger, the drum pattern delivering an excellent kick. Throughout the project, ATG keeps the vibe smooth yet refuses to be repetitive, creating a sound that serves as a perfect canvas for Chaundon to paint his life’s struggles upon.

The highlight song off “By the Way” is “Fire,” a posse cut talking about perseverance through the fire. The lineup of rappers is dope enough--Reks, Shabaam Sahdeeq, and Chaundon each hits home with their respective verses--but it’s the nuances of the track that set it apart from a lot of tracks one will hear in 2013. It starts with a jazzy piano sample and then sets into a beat that is a bit more anthemic. Right before the beat starts however, there is a minor sound effect that is equally as powerful, the sound of a lighter sparking up. Meanwhile, the hook, sung by Vanessa Renee, adds a final touch to the track.

Unlike the EP reviewed last week by Deejay Element, “By the Way” is for sale via The DJBooth and iTunes. But this is a more calculated project from the savvy veteran, way more conceptual and perhaps even more cohesive. By the end of the project, the listener has a sense of the obstacles Chaundon has dealt with to get to the point of being able to present this for-sale project, and can also appreciate what he has coming in the future. - Dharmic X