Review: Fearless Records' Punk Goes Crunk

Alright kids, it's time to trade in those skinny jeans and bandannas for baggy pants and iced-up grills. Fearless Records' latest compilation in the popular Punk Goes... series takes popular bands from the indie scene and has them put their spin on the hip-hop jam of their choice. Involved are bands that run the gamut of the scene, from newcomers Forever the Sickest Kids to Warped Tour veterans New Found Glory, from hardcore favorites Set Your Goals to the sweet, pop-punk sound of All Time Low. The result is an enjoyable effort that, though partially marred by some lame-duck re-dub tracks, will get the pit crunk fo sho.
Leading with a hardcore (and Star Wars themed) cover of Lil' Jon's "Put Yo Hood Up" is Set Your Goals, segueing into Say Anything's tongue-in-cheek "I Got Your Money" (ODB). These tracks are hilarious and keep the tone light and humorous, helping to keep the record from feeling too serious and inaccessible. The strong tracks, though spotty, are well done and keep the punked-up hip-hop vibe rollin' strong. Among the stand-outs are All Time Low's "Umbrella," TDWP's "Still Fly," and Forever The Sickest Kids' "Men In Black."
Punk and hip-hop together may seem like an odd pairing, and the awkwardness inherent in the mix shows itself in some of the record's weaker tracks. While most bands take the song and almost completely reinvent it in their particular style, some bands just choose to redo the songs with re-dubbed vocals or lame beats that lose the original intent of the song. This makes for weak filler tracks that bog down the integrity of the rest of the album.
Rounding out the album is a song that takes Arrested Development's moving, spiritual tear-jerker "Tennessee" and shifts it into the folk side of punk. New Found Glory puts the lyrics to acoustic guitar and closes the album with an uplifting, positive note, wrapping the album up nicely. With the strong beginning and end, along with some sweet jams in the middle, Punk Goes Crunk doesn't disappoint; fans of both hip-hop and indie will all find something to enjoy.