Rarely has an album been so aptly titled as D.P.'s 'Bar Tab Blues.'  Meshing hip-hop with a bar-room blues aesthetic D.P.'s latest release has manages to bring a touch of classic Americana to his hip-hop as he deals with topics that have an everyman appeal.  Whether he is drinking, taking drugs or falling in and out of love D.P. does so with the swagger of a man who has spent time propping up dusty bars and looking into the bottom of his glass while playing a jukebox.  D.P. doesn't bring glorious tales of hustling or the street life, instead opting for a less glamorous approach - as summed up in his track, 'Simple Dude.'  However, that is not to say that D.P. doesn't tackle issues with an air of melancholy fantasy as shown in the dark tale of love betrayed and revenge that is, 'Pawn Shop Gun.'  With an air of the Fun Lovin Criminals and the gritty literature of Hunter S. Thompson D.P. owes as much to the likes of Johnny Cash as he does Rakim.  While the album is certainly hip-hop orientated D.P.'s style seems him sing as much as he rhymes as he carries his own hooks and choruses.  Yes, D.P. espouses a losing mentality as his music sees him seeking consolation in the bottle and escapism in drugs and easy sex, but there is little glorification as shown perfectly on 'Wish I Knew.'  Gritty realism seeps through D.P.'s accomplished album to deliver something that should certainly see acclaim as it grows in the telling.  The only trick will be turning his morose yet engaging worldview into sales while pop culture seems caught up with all that glitters rather than the muddy realism that D.P.'s 'Bar Tab Blues' offers.

D.P. - Bar Tab Blues