M.I.B.'s newest album "The Maginot Line," released by Jungle Entertainment back in March, is a hip-hop album with an unusual variety of lyrical styles, showing off the eclectic talents of this often underrated group.

The first track, "Stop Playing Around" opens with the announcement "We're Back Fools!"  

And it's about time!  After a couple of pretty solid EPs, including "Illusion", and last year's "Money In The Building," it's good to see the group releasing their first full length album in three years and exploring new creative territory with confidence.

Sadly, in April of 2012, a fire broke out in the band's dorm, killing three of their stylists. A tragedy like that might have caused many groups to quit altogether, but not M.I.B.  However, just before the release of the album, the group was struck again by misfortune. Group member Cream fell down a flight of stairs at a recording studio in Hongdae and seriously injured his arm. This forced him to perform in a cast during the promotion of the album's release, further proof that this group doesn't back down for any reason.

"Stop Playing Around", the first song on "The Maginot Line", is a hypnotic mid-tempo track with a simple beat and a lot of space age effects weaving in and out of the mix. It's a confident, almost angry sounding track with lyrics that tell us that after all of the aforementioned hardship M.I.B. are ready to step back into the ring.

The song that follows, "Chisa Bounce", was released as a music video two months ago. This is a great party track, full of mischievous lyrics with a quirky edge.

The opening keyboard patterns of "Chisa Bounce" reminded me of Will.i.am and Britney's "Scream and Shout" track from 2013. Some of the rhythmic accents of the beat for "Chisa Bounce" even sound a little like "The Power" by SNAP.

Reading the roughly translated lyrics of "Chisa Bounce", I managed to get an idea of what this song is about from lines like "those who are rich are even crueller, so you can have it all."

"Chi-chisa bounce, we'll just do it our way!"

"Chisa" basically means "cheap" in Korean. M.I.B. seem to be saying here that they're not trying to impress anyone. They're perfectly comfortable letting their rough edges show and being themselves.  

The dance club vibes continue with the initial single that was released several months prior to the full album, "Dash (Men in Black)." Both "Dash (Men In Black)" and "Chisa Bounce" were made into music videos that include references to the Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones movie "Men In Black" - including repeated use of a prop that resembles the Neuralyzer featured in the original film.

One of the lyrics in "Dash (Men In Black)" states "I'll erase your memory for a moment tonight". Another line states "It's not the movie "Men In Black", We are M.I.B.!!". I'm not sure why the group chose to take this theme so far, but I guess it's amusing if you're a fan of the original film.

"Dash (Men In Black)" has a confident, foot stomping energy that's fitting for the title. In this case, the word Dash (alternately translated as "Aim", or "Push") basically means to approach without being shy. This is a B-boy song for sure.

"Worry About Yourself", featuring Bomi of A Pink, is a dramatic track with production reminiscent of an 80s R&B Hip Hop ballad.

Bomi's sweet sounding vocals contrast nicely with M.I.B.'s tough sounding rhyme flows. Kangnam's singing parts are also excellent. This song was popular as a single months before the full album was released, and was met with a very good reaction on several music programs. (Watch it on Music Bank here)

"Gangkang Suwollae", the fifth track on the album, has a dark menacing sound that reminds me of something Public Enemy might have released in the early 90s - but updated with some pimped out trap style beats.

"Dirty Sexy Money" is an obvious nod to their debut single from 2011 - "G.D.M. (Girls, Dreams, Money)", but "Dirty Sexy Money" is even more rude - beginning with a barely censored insult from a disgusted girl. 

The delivery of the rhymes on this track remind me of Eminem's energetic, comical rap style.

"Before Biting a Cigarette" (an admittedly rough song title translation there) is another track featuring a well paired female guest vocalist, Ha Im. This is a slow romantic groove with heartfelt lyrics about a relationship in trouble. The track features waves of lush notes that swirl in the background giving the tune a melancholy feeling.

"M.I.B. is coming out 2 (Feat TEM)" is another classic sounding hip hop track with a simple beat and alot of attitude. They name drop Rick Ross, Nas, Dr. Dre, and even Charlie Chaplin in this song. The best I can understand of the lyrics are that M.I.B are in the game to win it, but they're still determined to keep it real.

The sparse piano lines of "Reading", the last song on the album, bring a feeling of pensive uncertainty to the final moments of "The Maginot Line".

This song is such a contrast to the earlier dance and hip hop tracks, but it works well as a nostalgic bookend.

You get the feeling when you finally hear "Reading" that M.I.B. have covered a lot of territory in the 35 minute running time of the record. The chorus of the song states - "Time goes by fast in life - I know we can't go back".  

Well, at least we can start the record over from the beginning.

Watch the video for M.I.B. song "Chisa Bounce" RIGHT HERE

Carl Hamm is a DJ, radio host, film maker and self-described culture pusher. "Pop Yeh Yeh," Hamm's critically-heralded compilation of 1960s psychedelic rock from Singapore and Malaysia, was released on vinyl back in April for Record Store Day.