Invincible

Hip Hop’s gender imbalance has been an often debated and well-documented point of contention within the genre. There exists this void in quality female MCs in today’s climate – but there has always existed this dearth of female participation. Thankfully, we've been blessed by artists like Jean Grae, whose gender should be the least of one’s focus. Detroit MC Invincible, and her stellar debut ShapeShifters, should eternally be mentioned as amongst the one of the very best MCs today– regardless of gender and race –with the release of this excellent album.

The Black Milk-produced introductory track, “State Of Emergency,” begins the CD with intensity and there lays an urgency wrapped carefully in Black’s tense track – allowing Invincible’s impressive rhymes to soar right along with the production. The vibe continues amazingly with “Looongawaited,” produced by Vaughn T of The Labtechs. The thumping track lends just enough background aggression for Invincible to deliver her forceful and well-written lyrics to great effect. “Sledgehammer!” adds on to display just how incredible Invincible’s delivery truly is. The hypnotic and haunting beat from 14KT and Haircut of the Labtechs is the perfect backdrop.

“Spacious Skies,” produced by Apex, is a metaphor in motion with Invincible painting an almost anti-patriotic view of America – yet the song never seems to come off as an angry declaration, but rather more of a pleading cry to correct the supposed wrongs inflicted domestically and abroad in the country’s name. The songwriting on this track is particularly dense but artfully delivered – perhaps one of the better topic driven songs on the disc. Black Milk’s production appears again on the track “Recognize” featuring the talented Finale. As strong as the track is, the performance from the MCs is what makes this record work. Invincible and Finale, if it hasn’t been discussed by now, should consider working together more in the future. The chemistry exhibited on this track is undeniable. The somber “In the Mourning,” produced by Waajeed of Bling47, closes the album out in the same impressive vein as the rest of the songs preceding it. This is not a comfortable album or something one should attempt to digest in a few quick listens. This record should be on constant repeat as to absorb the many places Invincible takes the album lyrically and with an almost automatic ease. There is never a moment in which you don’t wish to know what she’ll spit next. Without even a hint of exaggeration, this is clearly one of the best-written Hip Hop – scratch that – best-written albums to come about in some time.

-- D.L. Chandler - Okayplayer

The long-awaited debut solo effort from Michigan native Invincible is like a sock to the head for anyone still sleeping on this lyrically gifted emcee. As one fifth of the all-girl hip-hop group ANOMOLIES, and a major asset to PPP’s first album, Triple P, Invincible finally steps into the spotlight
with Shape Shifters. To call this “conscious hip-hop” would be a grave misnomer— she’s a culturally aware, internationally minded, societal watchdog, with a library of beats so dense you almost wonder what bangers didn’t even make the cut.
Invincible keeps her production in the
Michigan family with fiery magma flames from production team the Labtechs, and Detroit sensations Waajeed, House Shoes and Black Milk. Black shows his range with dirty strings and a tough snare on perhaps the hardest joint on the album: “Recognize.” Featured on this track is
Finale, a Detroit MC who only makes
Invincible stronger and vice versa. The
duo complement each other in earnest. Also appearing on Shape Shifters are ANOMOLIES, Tiombe Lockhart and Buff 1, among others. In all, this album and Invincible are perfectly suited for any head
checking on Detroit or a solid boom bap to snap their neck to.
-LC Weber - Vapors

Chairman's Choice
by Chairman Mao
July 2008 | XXL Magazine

Let's be clear: INVINCIBLE ain't the one to be marginalized as merely a female rapper. Although she strives to be "one of the best, period/Not just one of the best with breasts and a period," you won't find her swapping her "baggy clothes for camel toes," as she declares on the thunderous "Looongawaited," from her, yes, long awaited debut ShapeShifters (Emergence/Bling 47). In other words, she proudly walks her own purist path, which means spouting diatribes on Middle East displacement ("People Not Places") and heartbroken thoughts on Bush-league America ("Spacious Skies") and addressing further social injustices ("Ropes") in her repertoire of humanism 'n' blues. It also means beats courtesy of her hometown's (whaddup, Detroit) finest studio rats (Black Milk, The Lab Techs, Waajeed)--a D-tail that complements Invincible's breadth and breath control with a gang of unfadeable aural touches: clever "Love Cats" cutups on the anitlove rap "No Easy Answers," cascading strings on the Motor City-centric "Recognize," and Spanish guitars on the epic title track. "Music is not a mirror to reflect reality/It's a hammer with which we shape it," she states at song's outset. Supreme sentiments. - XXL Magazine