The Unbound Project Vol. 1

They Say...

Review by Nick Pfeiffer, All Music Guide

After releasing the No More Prisons project, Realized is at it again, this time with the compilation The Unbound Project, Vol. 1 focused on the unjust incarceration of Black Panther and journalist Mumia Abul-Jamal. All of the artists participating on this CD have donated their royalties to the legal defense fund of Abul-Jamal and are united around the cause of exposing the flawed criminal justice system. Accompanied with the album is a brief essay that explores the indications of a "prison industrial complex" and its affects on the youth of America, especially minorities. The essay and the album together create a real eye-opening experience and The Unbound Project, Vol. 1 truly enlightens its observer. The album commences with a sure shot from Reflection Eternal (Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek) titled "The Human Element," which is equally entertaining as it is perceptive, and it is undoubtedly the best cut on the album. Other guests include Iriscience of Dilated Peoples, Aceyalone, J-Rocc, Saul Williams; the posse cut "Mumia 911" features everyone from Zach de la Rocha to the Roots' Black Thought. In the end, some of the tracks are slightly weak on the production side; however, it's not just how the music sounds, but what the lyricists are conveying. Pick up The Unbound Project to find out what's really going on -- you may not like what you find out about America, but you cannot expect the mainstream media to disseminate the truth.