Studio album number fourteen for Statik Selektah, sixth album producer, released one year after the last one. In this project, Lawrence's beatmaker collaborates with Lil' Fame, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, Styles P, Talib Kweli, Action Bronson, Royce da 5'9", Black Thought, Snoop Dogg, Wais P, Ransom, Dilated Peoples, Ab-Soul, Jon Connor, Logic, NORE, Termanology, Reks, Sheek Louch, Pharoahe Monch, Crooked I, Heltah Skeltah, B-Real, JFK, Boldy James, Dessy Hinds, Joe Scudda, Bun B, Jared Evan and Posdnuos, among others.
MOP's Lil' Fame and Easy Money, a guy from Lawrence's amateur rap group linked to Termanology, perform on the first track on an energetic boom bap. Statik gives the first flash to track number two: boom bap jazzy spectacular, perfect, Joey Badass comes out of nowhere on the mic, invited by AZ's "carry on tradition" [sampled] straight from "Life's a Bitch", NY-style cut, the Pro Era MC starts and kills the track, smoothness on a flawless production of Statik. The mic goes to Freddie Gibbs who performs with an unstoppable style, uncatchable flow, he certifies the banger. Black Star & LOX are the groups represented in "The Thrill Is Back", the performers are fit on a light rhythm with kick and snare that stand out. The fourth track is another high point of the whole album: Action Bronson quietly opens over a top notch jazzy boom bap, amazing, Royce continues smoothly and calmly on an ethereal loop, he seems to have a style similar to that of Nas / AZ in the heyday, closes Black Thought with a spatial verse, clearly the best track on the record, absolute banger.
There's Snoop Dogg in the next track, but the song has lyrics aimed at pimping, a hardcore beat, CharlieRED hook, Snoop with a vicious style even over the limits, Wais P is at home, while Ransom puts the piece back on track with style. The Dilated Peoples disappoint in the sixth choice, on a jazzy beat that can be easily killed, the boys stroll without noticing the view, in a dull way. "Alarm Clock" is something else: light boom bap, beautiful female rnb sample in the background, slow, hard and pounding drum machine, Ab-Soul boasts a clear and determined flow and good lyricism, Jon Connor offers bars with a lively, raw flow that also features a couple of virtuosity, then comes Logic with a great energy and blows everyone away with a fresh, clean, relaxing, dope flow. Excellent piece. "My Time" boasts four dudes I've never heard, some come from Pro Era, but none stand out due to ignorable flat styles on a beat that's clearly a waste. A similar argument can be made for Sincere, an emerging unknown who surprisingly finds himself having a solo cut in a studio album by Statik Selektah: his performance is honest on a very somber and bleak jazzy boom bap provided by the beatmaker.
Bronson's second rehearsal within the record, in the tenth choice, he's not inspired, despite a good jazzy midtempo boom bap, he waits for this sick and sinister beat and delivers while keeping calm and tight. In "Drunk & High", the producer churns out a hardcore rhythm for a posse with NORE, Termanology and Reks: the track is underestimated, but remains several steps below excellence. Jon Connor & Ransom both make their second appearance in "The Chopper", boom bap jazzy funky, Connor swift and smooth, it's arguably among the best on the entire record with a sublime hardcore performance, while Ransom with a raw and smooth delivery locks this piece into the highlights. "Down Like This" boasts the presence of Sheek Louch of LOX, Pharoahe Monch of Organized Konfusion and Crooked I of Slaughterhouse: Statik comes out with one of his best beats, light jazzy boom bap, Sheek is calm, confident, delivers faithfully, Monch tries to kill the beat, instead, the production facilitates Crooked I which manages to bury the brilliant rhythm of Statik: Long Beach rapper is raw, tight, shiny, sick on another level, destroys everything.
Joey Badass returns for a solo cut on track number fourteen, providing devastating delivery on a light jazzy musical carpet pulls out by the producer, with a good bridge on the hook. Sean Price & Rock perform "Heltah Selektah", light jazzy boom bap, the guys don't disappoint and provide bars with a polished, smooth, easy style, excellent piece, too short. JFK & B-Real are the guests of "Overdose", where Statik continues to do his magic, B-Real does its job, while JFK seems to be flying on this sensational soundscape. Boldy James has the fourth and final solo track, "Something to Cry for": boom bap midtempo, light jazzy, Detroit rapper is precise here. "Rise Above" is a Brooklyn track with Stro & Dessy Hinds on a masterful jazzy soul boom bap by Statik Selektah, Stro is in shape, then Dessy Hinds with a flow similar to Jay-Z sweeps away the track. Statik continues to make no mistake and offers hardcore rhythm for Joe Scudda and Colin Monroe. "God Knows" is track number twenty, the last one: Selektah's light jazzy soul production, Bun B flowing, clean, shiny, smooth as oil in the first verse, Jared Evan offers a rnb-soul hook and spits out a few bars in rapping, then Statik changes the rhythm mid-track for the last verse by Posdnuos, which closes the project with a flow calibrated on a refreshing beat.
The only album released by Duck Down Records in the whole year, together with a collaborative album by Buckshot: gets a major commercial response, enter the Billboard 200 and reach the top 15 among hip-hop records, charting #11 in the independent chart and #7 in the rap one. I don't think Statik Selektah has missed a single production out of twenty: considering the producer albums he released, this hadn't happened to him since his debut album. The record is certainly too long, with twenty tracks and almost 70 minutes of listening, however, it's certainly an enjoyable and interesting listen in the hip-hop season, one of the best records of the year, and boasts some excellent performances: Black Thought annihilates all the other 40 performers, and is the clear MVP of the edition.
Highlights: "Carry On", "The Imperial", "Alarm Clock", "The Chopper", "Down Like This", "Heltah Selektah".
Rating: 7.5/10.
No comments:
Post a Comment