Black Geez — Glockchester

Black Geez offers one of the first hip-hop projects of the new year.

After a skit about Rochester tv news, a jazzy rhythm pops up, dark boom bap with good samples and a slow hard and pounding drum machine, Black Geez chooses a good rapping style, hook sung. The second pick features a jazzy production with tight looped piano samples, slow flow from the rapper. The third joint is a flash, dazzling flash within the project, "Re-Up": excellent jazzy boom bap, solid regular drum, light sample with oriental vibes, Black Geez inspired slow delivery, simple chorus with scratches; then comes a guy that I've the feeling [in the air] I've heard before, but I don't know where, I don't recognize him right away. His flow is velvety, smooth, clean, despite the raw and heavy voice, he delivers with a veteran style, looking for I see that it's Beanie Sigel. Oh, that's a more than welcome surprise on this project.

Following a simple rhythm with good synths and a sung chorus, Black Geez also sounds discreetly in the fifth song, on a dirty and pounding drum. Oowop is the second guest on the tape, on a jazzy rhythm with a slow pounding drum machine and a dark female sample, however the cut is inferior to the others. "Days Like This" boasts a better soundscape than its predecessor, jazzy boom bap with midtempo drum and elegant, sad and gloomy piano samples, lonely and isolated in a corner while sobbing, Black Geez doesn't kill it with his syncopated style. Jehovah Nissi is the last guest, in "Back to New York", jazzy rhythm with excellent dark piano sample and vibrant drum, good energetic flow by Black Geez, good also Jehovah Nissi. The Rochester MC delivers inspired in the eponymous cut, over a great jazzy boom bap with robust drum and deep female soulful sample. "Peace Talk" archives the project, jazzy beat, tight looped sample, circular with its distant and taut synths, slow drum, functional hook.

Overall, it's a swinging tape: 28 minutes, 10 short tracks, production and lyricism aren't brave enough to take the extra leap towards quality. Pretty simple album, with typical new East Coast music and bars, enlivened by the guests.

Rating: 6.5/10.