Once you find out that Chronic Future is a teenage band, don’t pawn them offas just another Hansen, Nsync, or Backstreet Boys. Teens they may be, butthe band has been playing music for a long time. At the ages of 13and 14, Michael Busse, (vocals) brothers Ben (Guitar, Vocals) and Barry(Drums) Collins, and Brandon Lee (Bass, Turntables) released their debutdisc in 1996. Although they made the front page of The Arizona Republiclabeling them a “band with a future,” their style of rap-rock music was hardto get on the radio.

“Music really wasn’t ready for us three years ago,” said Chronic Futureguitarist Collins in the Arizona Republic. “We had a lot of trouble withradio stations with the rap part of it, and now that’s all radio stationswant.”

So the boys made a decision that most bands wouldn’t dare do. They decidedto take a couple of years off, graduated from high school, and when theyfelt they were ready, got together with producer Jay Lean (Ice-T, Bodycount)to come out with their sophomore release, 4 Elements.

The result is a stronger, more-mature sounding album.

The first song “Jump to Jive” is an exciting and anticipating song,featuring accelerated guitar beats and an outcry of thumpin’ rap lyrics.”Jump to Jive” sets the theme for the 14-track album, exhilarating andeye-popping in the album’s whole.

“The Majik” strays from most of the songs’ usual rap lyric sound, and hasmore of a Rage Against the Machine quality with it’s roaring and aggressivepitch.

The song “Run for Shelter” is slower than most of the songs on the album.It starts out sounding rock style, yet has a combination of rap-rocksounding lyrics and a simple guitar beat.

The diversified songs and twisted mixes take the talents of the band in alldirections.

Although their type of music isn’t the new style on the block anymore,Chronic Future should prove high in the competition with other rap-rockbands out today.

I would give it 3 out of 5 Sinatras