Copywrite raps about The Life and Times of Peter Nelson

Copywrite comes off as awkward and scatterred, but remains lyrically impressive.

On "The Life and Times of Peter Nelson," Columbus-based Copywrite's second full-length album and first since 2002, change is evident. Copywrite has seen both of his groups, MHz and Weathermen, dissolve and a marked transition to becoming more of a storyteller than a punchline rapper.

This album consists of 20 songs and lasts 80 minutes. The production is varied, as Twiz The Beat Pro appears most often, handling four tracks. Twiz produces the most gripping track, "Three Story Building," which features Dilated Peoples telling stories about their childhoods over a heavy drum and horn beat, with MF Grimm's catchy hook "We let the beat tell the story for us." The track also has great scratching of Beastie Boys' "Paul Revere."

While all three emcees have quality verses, Evidence of Dilated Peoples takes over on the closing verse and dazzles: "Watching hot kettles cook and boil Top Ramen, Gettin' locked up, told my people I ain't bombin', Started to rap, told my momma I'd be Common, she thought I meant normal, I said let's be honest."



The album has a few strange ventures, with the unimpressive "Rob the Club" and "Bored," and the weird Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love ballad "Shotgun." Copywrite sounds like he has a lot to tell about the past eight years, and he is effective on "Wish You Were Here," discussing his grandfather, Skip Nelson, who sang and played for the Glenn Miller Band, "Confessional," and "Forever and a Day," a dedication to Camu Tao.