Ninth album producer for Statik Selektah, released by Nas' Mass Appeal. On the rhythms chosen by the boy from Massachusetts, there are Black Thought, Nas, Joey Badass, Conway, Killer Mike, Dave East, Method Man, Jadakiss, Styles P, Termanology, Benny the Butcher, Rome Streetz, Haile Supreme, Evidence, Blue, Lil Fame, Smoke DZA, Rim da Villin, Sean Price, Bun B and Havoc, among others.
Black Thought certifies the first high point of the record in the initial cut, on boom bap jazzy, with powerful and lean drum, heavy and hard, eclectic piano, and melodic soulful sample, the MC of Philadelphia builds a track destined to be the best of the edition. Nas and Joey Badass bring out a braggadocio cut, performing with a flowing, crisp, slow, technically clean, dope style: splendid choice, thanks also to the jazzy boom bap with powerful drum machine, and to the soulful sample taken from a Jonathan Davis cover of the classic "Walk on By". The third one is a posse on simple rhythm, good samples, eclectic piano, cold and gloomy, soul hook by Allan Kingdom, good smooth delivery by Conway the Machine, then 2 Chainz with a decent style, while Killer Mike has superior flow, quick and smoothness. "Hard Living" boasts a good jazzy rhythm and a powerful energetic drum to support the crisp delivery of Dave East and that of Method Man, who is also confirmed in form on this record. After an effortless solo track by Jack Harlow, there is a good solo by Badass, on a somber and eclectic piano in the background.
At the seventh song, arrives the LOX, Statik reserves them an excellent jazzy soundscape with energetic drum, excellent samples, dark and tense mood perfect for Jada and Ghost, who spit bars with Termanology. A posse follows, Benny the Butcher boasts a quick, fluid and crisp flow, Paul Wall has an opposite style that is fit with Statik jazzy rhythm, lively and tight drum. He closes Brady Watt, colorless. Almost surprisingly, the next track is among the least successful: despite a Haile Supreme soul hook, and good soulful female sample on light jazzy beat, with slow and tight drum pounding, neither Rome Streetz nor Fly Anakin manage to affect. "Welcome to the Game" has similar problems, simple rhythm, energetic tight drum machine, simple soul hook by Haile Supreme, Marlon Craft and the new-kid-on-the-block Kota the Friend don't leave their mark on the song. Suddenly, Evidence and Blu raise the level of the disc at song number eleven: Statik's usual jazzy boom bap, slow hard pounding and tearing drum, great male dope soulful sample, Evidence delivers with a slow and clear flow, Blu closes the cut.
The two MCs open an interesting section of this ninth solo project by Statik: "No More" is another curious posse, featuring Lil Fame, Smoke DZA and Rim da Villin. Boom bap jazzy, stunning female soulful sample, Lil Fame immediately starts with a crazy energetic intro and he immediately kills the cut with a powerful energetic delivery, the slow, gaunt and distant drum is destroyed by the powerful flow of the M.O.P. rapper; Smoke DZA follows, obviously not with the same energy, on the contrary, he even lets both the drum and the sample breathe, with pity; closes Rim, with an even cumbersome style compared to that of Fame. To close this wonderful central-final fraction of the disc, there is Sean Price: jazzy rhythm, tight drum, beautiful soulful female sample, melodic, heavenly, there's a guy who says something, then Sean P closes, raw, flowing, driving, dope. The next cut is almost sufficient, there are Nick Grant, CJ Fly and JFK on a triumphant sax sample, track that I don't have no problems to ignore. Bun B of UGK and Havoc of Mobb Deep give a tribute choice to bros Pimp C and Prodigy on a jazzy rhythm of Statik with soul hook by Haile Supreme, then the young daughter of Statik Selektah closes the album singing on the track of Bobby Sessions and Harley Harl.
Statik is working hard, he shows it. His fifth album of the year is also his best, by far. This album is solid enough, it's held up by its best actors, however, it's still too erratic: for each Black Thought there is a Jack Harlow, for each Nas there is a Marlon Craft, for each Killer Mike there is a 2 Chainz, for each Benny the Butcher there is a Paul Wall, for each Conway the Machine there is a JFK, for every LOX there is a Termanology. So, it's not so consistent as «the ninth attempt to realize a classic» deserves, although, it's a good project, recommended for East Coast fans.
Highlights: "The Healing", "Keep It Moving", "Play Around", "Hard Living", "America Is Canceled", "Soul Custody", "No More", "Ralph Laurens Closet", "Wake Up".
Rating: 7/10.
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