Considering how oppressive the prevailing political climate in this country is towards gays and their lifestyes, this is also a very timely release. As Tori himself says, “Marry Me is an album of the moment, capturing the mood of a country in turmoil over people's private lives. It's at once an obvious stand for gay marriage, as well as a greater statement of personal freedom--much needed in these times of post-election unrest and uncertainty.”

This listener agrees. Whether he’s rapping about a relationship between two individuals, or about the problems of society as a whole, Tori’s lyrics on Marry Me, which also features guest performances by glbt rap artists Johnny Dangerous, Katastrophe, Dutchboy, Aggracyst, Sista Gyrl and Harley Wood, seem to document the current anxious, fractured, polarized “zeitgeist” of America today.

The opening track “Marry Me” is also the CD’s title song. Its strong, direct “out” lyrics have helped it garner a 2005 Outmusic OMA Award nomination for Out Song of the Year. As a rap anthem for the defense of queer love and gay marriage, it just don’t get any more in your face than this song’s angry lyrics, which complains about the "muthaf**k mister president":

f**k our society / and the constitution / baby won’t U marry me? / f**k all the politics / religious folks and hypocrites / loving U is all eye need / baby won’t U marry me?

Tori’s rage over political and moral attacks on private lifestyles continues in track two, “Y Does it Matter?”:

tell me how is any 1 affected cuz eye say eye do / while U punish people 4 believing differently than U / living differently than U / and apparently its true cuz now U wanna add laws to support your sick values / as U pass this ignorance onto the children / using scripture scare tactics / calling everything a sin

Marry Me also contains steamy same-sex love songs, with words of passion that pour forth like homoerotic stream-of consciousness love sonnets. There’s no escaping the intensity of Tori’s deep-down romantic sensibilities or his desire for old-fashioned love. He can be humorous, as in “Soul Food,” broken-hearted, as in “Area Code 404,” or even playfully spoofing of typical hip-hop sexual braggadocio as in “I’m Right Here”:

now eye ain’t tryin’a brag but eye knows what eye possess / lil daddie is tight while most brothas is a mess / fill your life with love / not your head with stress / am eye the best of the best / the answer is hell yes

In tracks like “Act-a-Fool,” “Lee Vita Alone,” “Keep Tellin’ Yourself,” Tori’s keen philosophical eye penetrates even deeper, perhaps too deep. He sees the innate failures of human nature on personal, social, and political levels, and somehow blends them together into one dark, existential outlook. As he asks in "Act-a-Fool," “what cha gone do / when the love U got ain’t the physical love that U were hoping 4 / when the Universe cracks a window of opportunity instead of just opening a door / would U act a fool / or would U just be cool."

Tori build’s his insightful rap poetry from the bottom up, starting with a cleverly crafted base layer of combined hip-hop, R&B, house and electro sounds. Upon this funk-solid foundation he constructs striking hooks, melodies and beats. There’s a touch of Will Smith’s jocular bounce in Tori’s grooves and vocal delivery, and some of Prince’s cleverness pervading the CD’s overall sound.

There are elements of both vintage drum machines and new digital percussion samples in Marry Me’s techno music beds. Most hauntingly, dispersed here and there, are tiny samples (very short in length and constituting only one chord or one beat) of what I swear are mini-snippets of classic old soul/R&B/funk tunes, like old Curtis Mayfield.

In addition to being a prolific recording artist, Tori is also a busy music producer, popular DJ and respected member of the wide ranging, openly gay, “homo hip-hop” scene.

Tori started both piano and saxophone lessons when he was 4 years old. He taught himself much of the craft of songwriting and the tools of producing. By high school he was making his way as a DJ. His hard work paid off: when he was only 19 years old, Tori was awarded an appointment as personal DJ for none other than the artist formerly known as Prince.

When I asked Tori about his experience with His Royal Badness, he replied, “I was indeed a personal DJ for Prince for about 3 years. It was back in 94-95, I believe. I started out as just a staff member for his retail store and eventually landed the job as DJ just by chance. There was no application process or anything of the sort. It was one of those rare gifts from The Universe and all of the stars simply came into alignment and there I was standing beside 'the man' on a regular basis."

By his mid-20s, Tori became widely recognized as a DJ. He released a series of solo albums in rapid succession, including his 1999 debut, Impact, and later on Black.Out. With the release of Marry Me, he is gaining even wider national attention. Marry Me contains some real artistic insights into the darker, Zen-trickster side of life, perceptively and eloquently stated. It is also unashamedly old-fashioned in its views on romance.

They say that deep down inside, all cynics are really just broken-hearted romantics. It will be interesting to hear what new music Tori Fixx comes up with, if he ever finds the true and lasting love he pines for on this CD.