Welcome to Planet Irs

IRS

Recommended if you like Black Eyed Peas or…

Welcome to Planet Irs

IRS

Recommended if you like Black Eyed Peas or Cyprus Hill

IRS is on the scene trying to collect. Luckily, this IRS isn’t the Internal Revenue Service – it is a new hip-hop group. IRS is not out to collect your money; it’s out to collect some respect – which the members earn with Welcome to Planet Irs.

Lesson one: the group’s name is not pronounced “I-R-S,” but “ERZ.” Now you’re well on your way to checking out what’s going down on the planet IRS.

“Lift Off,” the first song on the album, begins with a countdown, including the smallest details such as buttons of a computer in the control room punching away and the sound of a rocket taking off. The take-off reaches its full height, and intense scratching takes over your eardrums. The song is full of bass and the group members, Korry Deez, Black Cat and T.R.A.C.K.S, take turns rocking the microphone.

“We Don’t Play” is the highlight of the album, with the funky bass that takes over the song. There’s a fusion of different hip-hop and jazz styles throughout, giving it a really unique flavor. Black Cat raps about the music industry in the second verse, saying, “I’m sick and tired of these industry dudes, thinking they know what’s what, thinking they know who’s who. Thinking they know my crew swearing they paid our dues. But every time it gets me vexed it’s like it’s deja vu. Because it never seems to end, the way they pose like friends until you need a helping hand and no arms extend.” They do something many others are afraid to do – criticize the industry.

Finally, “T.R.A.C.K.S.’s Lament 1.5” changes the direction of the album, chilling out with a strong R’B feeling in the background. The lyrics are about the flaws of our society. With its strong message, the song is reminiscent of one that would appear on an album by the Black Eyed Peas.

With perfect beats, fluid flows, a sample of Eminem and meaningful lyrics, IRS’s Welcome to Planet Irs is the perfect escape from Earth. Even better, it’s a journey back to a time when hip-hop had a purpose.