Educated Consumers is the DC duo of Seez Mics and Jay Bombbeat. While they haven’t garnered a lot of national attention, Winning Winter marks their fifth full length album. According to their press release, they are the bridge between hip hop’s golden eras. I’m not sure what they’re attempting to say with this phrase, and I can’t say that I would associate multiple eras and sounds with them. Instead, I would rather compare them with someone like People Under the Stairs, who build good time sample-based hip hop that seems simple on the surface but is actually quite complex.

On the surface, Educated Consumers seem like they would be right up my alley, with plenty of funky beats and politically charged lyrics. In reality, I’m much more frustrated with them, and it mostly has to do with the lyrics of Seez Mics. A lot of it stems from the gap that occurs from original idea to how the actual song comes across. The first moment that gave me pause was the two song combination of “There’s No Irony…” and “…In Being Paid To Fuck.” I know that the intent is to make a commentary on consumerism and the overuse of irony in American society, but the title and chorus works better on a shock value level than it does in encouraging deep thought amongst listeners. The main idea just isn’t that strong or original, and they don’t have enough new things to say to warrant a two-part opus. “She’s Educating” is again noble in intent, but lacks in execution. This time Mics tries to speak for the difficulties women face growing up in American society, but he lacks the insight and subtly to pull off such a song. “Ahead of Myself,” featuring Cubbiebear is a straight battle rap, and the song completely falls apart when Cubbiebear comes on the mic, and his verse completely undoes any goodwill or understanding with women that should have been made with “She’s Educating,” as Cubbiebear claims he “kicks nuts like a feminist, PMS and get loose.” Really? Really? “Get Your Log On,” featuring Dood Computer and Sadistik is a song making commentary about our online culture, but again doesn’t present any insight, instead coming across like an older person talking about “The Google” and “The Twitter.” “How We Are Alive” presents an opportunity to switch things up and expand their sound, as Bombbeat lays down a slower beat with heavy reverb on guitar and drums, but Mics just uses it as an opportunity to drop some bad teen angst poetry.

I really wanted to get behind Educated Consumers, but I’m left conflicted. The production is great, but I can’t get behind Seez Mics’ lyrics. I hate drawing the line like that, but I’ve been listening to this album for quite some time, hoping everything would finally click, but I just can’t come around on it. It’s unfortunate, because this album had great potential. It just wasn’t fulfilled.