(hed) p.e.

Despite being unfortunately lumped into the short-lived rap-metal craze, punk-driven genre cross-cultivators (Hed)P.E. continue to blaze their own trail with their own "fuck-the-fads" fusion of organic grooves, brash punk rock and soulful hip-hop. As is usually the case, (Hed)P.E.'s best work has come since they left the confines of a major label and taken their sound underground to blossom.

It's been three years since founder Jahred Shane recaptured his roots with Back 2 Base X and his newest drop, New World Orphan is the energetic and infectious byproduct of that rebirth. Given the current political climate, it's no surprise that New World Orphans is a power-to-the-people, damn-the-man affair. Playing the far-left voice of the unspoken masses Shane raps, screams and swoons his way through punk-hybrid anti-hits "Live Or Die Free," "Ordo (Ab Chao)" and "Bloodfire" with a venom not heard in hip-hop flavored music since the first Rage Against The Machine disc. No fragment of the American elite is safe from attack, as (Hed)P.E. sounds off on the economy ("Middle Class Blues"), religion and other propaganda dealers ("Stay Ready") and the Reptilian conspiracy theory on the thrash-fueled "Planet X." Strange Noize Tour partners Kottonmouth Kings and Tech N9ne step in for a couple of guest spots on (respectively) "Higher Ground" and "Work On This."

Like conspiracy theorists across the internet, (Hed)P.E. has set out to expose and draw forces against the not-so-hidden government that is the "New World Order." Although, by being as boldly diverse and musically unhinged as they ever have been, (Hed)P.E. is so much entertaining than any bitchy radio show hosts out there.

—Ryan Ogle
02.25.09