Shinobi Stalin- Invisible Man Fly Definition
Arriving in Central Florida (1990) from New York, Shinobi Stalin brought that Hip-Hop golden age ethos with him. From the time he touched down, he honed his skills and years later (2009) he dropped his rookie release “Zombie Skool.” That LP was without a doubt a classic release not only because of the skills that were brought to the table but the maturity that was displayed as well. “Zombie Skool” was easily one of, if not, thee best album of ‘09 hands down. The hardest thing for an artist to do though is to follow up a classic release with another gem. Although it took 4-5 years to create, “Invisible Man” was definitely worth the wait!
And from the moment the soulful opening of “Application” blasts through your speakers, it’s clear that Shinobi is on a mission with his sophomore release “Invisible Man.” The title is as fitting as it is grandiose because Shinobi Stalin is as honest as a rapper can be plus, he’s as likely to give a self-conscious commentary on his own actions as he is to declare how dope he is artistically. “Invisible Man” flows beautifully from one track to the next, infusing old-school rhythm, soul and a euphony of sounds with a modern Hip-Hop essence that makes it incredibly unique. For all intents and purposes, Stalin and his production cohorts give a flawless performance. There’s not a wasted moment, a weak beat or verse here. The variety between deliveries, tempos, and themes keeps everything fresh.
To state the obvious, we all have problems that we deal with in life. On an everyday basis, we could deal with things like bills being paid, putting food on the table, roof over ones head to relationship issues with those that are close to us. Along with that, are what I deem to be unnecessary stresses like haters and those attempting to throw monkey wrenches in our lives or individuals that we put our faith in whom in turn wind-up being backstabbers. You couple that with the issues going on globally, and your plate tends to overflow. Thematically, the range here is amazing and Shinobi Stalin has the same convictions with the braggadocio style of “Granite” (where him and Roc Marciano kill it) and the posse joint “N.I.K.E.” which are 2 of the catchiest songs of the album, as he does tackling the personal issues. He approaches EVERY track enlightened without being too preachy.
There are too many bangers to name but the tracks you must pay attention to are “Control” where the samples combined with the lyrics are meant to awaken those as to what’s going on globally. It’s a must that you really listen to that track and the next track “His-Story” as they contain deeper meanings once you scratch the surface. Next track I sympathize with is “Nigger Rican”. “NR” touches on dealing with racism from your own kind. I have felt that type of pain before of not being accepted and trying unsuccessfully to explain that I know my history; the fact that African blood pumps through my veins and my peoples as well. It’s extremely hard to fit in when your peers are ignorant to reality and don’t do their math. Another track that hits home is Stalin’s homage to his brother who was a major influence in his life and artistic career. The track is called “Brother’s Influence” and features his brother Mike Rosa.
What I love about this album is that it’s real. Not the Hip-Hop version of “I’m REAL!” but real in the sense of an individual leaving personal pieces of himself for those to judge. Shinobi doesn’t have to expose himself in that way. He could easily follow the trends and ignore his true expression and to me that takes courage. That’s his way of really challenging the industry and throwing up the proverbial middle finger to all the sellouts. With “Invisible Man” you will absorb mad energy from the songs, each one touching on subjects that will include your braggadocios, self-reflection and introspective lyrics with inklings of messages that contain historical value and knowledge.
The production is awesome and handled by the likes of Reeplay, Abbott, Tempermental, Robot Oxford, Soy Is Real and Stalin himself (“Defly Fly).” Vocal appearances were made by J-Biz who I’ve always felt is the re-incarnation of Rakim Allah (dude is mad smooth on the mic) and Kap Kallous with the Vets of KIN make an appearance on aforementioned N.I.K.E. (so nice, I mentioned it twice). The cuts were done primarily by DJ STRANGER (Jon Silba who also did the sick artwork for the album) and DJ YNOT. Look on the surface, and you’ve got an album full of memorable songs, hooks that lodge in your mind… but look in depth, and it’s quality from the top down. Support Shinobi Stalin by purchasing the “Invisible Man” LP ‘cause it’s worth every penny!!! http://shinobistalin.bandcamp.com/
