And, right off the bat, listeners are treated to a track that rarely comes along in music. On My Way is not your typical hip hop song. Yes, Coffee and Bonafide rap their way through the song, as would be expected. But it the music that surprises and draws you in. This is simply not your typical hip hop song. It features an orchestral arrangement for music. Violins, pianos, even a choir chanting in the background; it's all there. And it sets a mood for the entire disc that says this will not be typical Grits or typical hip hop.
Naturally, that thought is not entirely true. Grits is sure to add in a few tracks that are heavy on the rock music, something they've become relatively famous for. Stessin' Me and If I... are two tracks that definitely have the rock music influence, and it works well. If I... is actually one of Grits' most straight-to-the-point, in-your-face, brutally honest tracks ever lyrically. At one point, the boys of Grits ask their fellow black men, "Dr. King said we would overcome, will we?" The entire track is laced with lyrics that will provoke thought for people of any race. Stressin' Me, on a slightly less brutally honest level, is the same way. The lyrics will make you think and will probably be easily related to.
And there are also the slower and straight hip hop tracks on this disc as well. Open Windows, Feel My Flow, There I Go and a few other tracks on the disc stick to a sound that fans of Grits are used to from the boys. They always keep their lyrics honest and meaningful, which is the major key to their success. These tracks are certainly no exception.
But this disc is defined more by the tracks that you simply don't hear every day. I Wanna Be With You (which features Sarah Kelly), is an unabashed mix of pop and hip hop, the genre of hip pop. It is good, but it does leave a bit to be desired (and hearing Sarah Kelly attempting a bit of rapping is definitely not this track's forte). Sippin' Some Tea brings back the old school Grits sound that a lot of their fans never knew they had. It is a nice reminder of the style that Grits began with, and it's an enjoybable song. And then there's We Don't Play. Featuring Manchild, this song brings in the heavy guitar and rock driven music that is typical of many Grits' tracks, but with one great exception. This is not a straight rock song musically. We Don't Play features a Carribean/island flavoring that truly makes the song what it is. Without it, the song is another good Grits track. With it, the track becomes great and not-so-ordinary.
In reflection, Dichotomy B is a dichotomy all in itself. At the same time, it is the completion of what Dichotomy A started. The disc is solid. There are a few tracks here and there that leave a bit desired in certain parts, but, overall, the disc delivers a little bit of something for everyone. Grits' fans will be more than happy to shell out the cash for this disc, and anyone else who does will be plesently surprised as well.