The Reti Opening (Act Won) (CD)

quot;Truly live hip-hop is a rare thing-the Roots have that market cornered-but just having an emcee and live musicians doesn't necessarily qualify a group as quot;live hip-hop.quot; Sacramento-based troupe Iconoclast Robot is just too eclectic to wear that label. Sure, hip-hop's in there, but so is moody, melodic '90s-influenced alternative rock. And, yes, emcee Ryan Charles can sing, too. This isn't even rap rock or nu metal with hip-hop influences or some other well-trodden rap-hybrid subgenre. It's new territory. It's music that melts genres to the point of stripping them of their previous connotations. There's the raw energy of rock, the poetry of hip-hop and influences hard to even pinpoint. quot; Aaron Carnes - Sacramento News and Review.