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If Justin Timberlake recorded a "FutureSex/LoveSounds 2.0," it could very well have sounded like Los Angeles Asian-American group Far*East Movement's debut album, "Free Wired." The set explodes with strong hooks, synths and sparkles, thanks to a hot roster of producers (Roger Sanchez, the Smeezingtons) and several heavy-hitting collaborations (Snoop Dogg, Keri Hilson). The quartet's members are rappers at their core, offering maximum swagger on the Beastie Boys-referenced track "So What?" and on the spoken/rapped, staccato-friendly "Girls on the Dance Floor." Kev Nish's lines on the Snoop-supported "If I Was You (OMG)" sums up the album's lyrical content: "We sippin' Goose, girl/We gettin' loose, girl/So won't you sit up on my lap with that caboose, girl." The set's most aggressive cut is "Go Ape" (featuring Lil Jon and Colette Carr), but things take an uplifting direction on the midtempo piano ballad "Rocketeer," featuring OneRepublic's Ryan Tedder. With all the European dance influences on "Free Wired," the outfit appropriately employs U.K. electro-pop artist FrankMusik on the rhythmic "Fighting for Air." Fueled by the success of Billboard Hot 100 hit "Like a G6" (featuring Cataracs & Dev), Far*East Movement is a fast-rising act to watch.
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