?A very early Erykah Badu on acid? (Muzik Magazine, 2003)?? Maybe. Critics fumbled for adjectives and comparisons to describe the utterly unique vocal presence of a rapper who can?t quite sing, but whose tunes are nonetheless as catchy and certainly as sincere as any contemporaries in the R&B field.
Dudley?s full-length debut on Stones Throw Records, A Lil? Light (2003), showcased his cracked-up singing style over the most melancholy yet raw beats around the underground ? produced entirely by the maestro Madlib.
The sophomore Dudley Perkins album is due to drop in early 2006 ? tentatively entitled Expressions. He continues the plaintive, introspective soul-searching ? as well as his trademark lamentations over the bleak future for mankind. As always, his search for goodness and truth is balanced by a robust celebration of the good life ? the booty life and the weed life. But expect even funkier dance-floor singles this time around ? and even more melodious arrangements from Madlib, who again handles all production duties. Mr. Perkins? latest material suggests an ever-honing instinct for working his twisted melodies around the deepest ?Lib soul beats ? having life-or-death backseat conversations amongst the bass, strings, horns, keys and the listener.