Statik Selektah & Termanology — 1982

First collaborative album by the duo from Lawrence, Massachusetts, formed by producer Statik Selektah and rapper Termanology. 16 tracks, 52 minutes of listening. The production is entirely managed by Statik, he creates simple jazzy rhythms, boom bap with light, tidy, minimal drums and bland samples. Termanology is little more than the typical generic MC, he doesn't have enough personality to carry through the songs, and his flow is weak for most of these fifty minutes: this is quite evident when comparing his solo tracks, where he's overshadowed by the beats, and the tracks with the guests. MOP, Cassidy, Xzibit, Bun B, Styles P, Saigon, Freeway, Saigon and Inspectah Deck participate: quite effortlessly, they're all better than the main rapper, effectively saving the whole project. Many of them bring energy and ignorance to the record, Freeway deserves an honorable mention: the Philadelphia rapper boasts a rough, raw and grumpy flow that creates an interesting contrast to the lightness, cleanliness and smoothness of the jazz beat provided by the producer. Published by ST., ShowOff and Brick Records, it's the first Termanology record to enter Billboard's rap chart.