Don’t let Daylight Savings Time fool ya…The REAL reason you can’t sleep is ’cause you’re dying to find out who’s on Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten! Don’t worry, the answer’s below. Sit back, relax, and check out the list!
1) SMOKE DZA & PETE ROCK dropped new heat from their forthcoming “Don’t Smoke Rock” collabo project & brought DAVE EAST along for the ride on “Limitless.” Gliding across an immaculately produced soundscape by the “Chocolate Boy Wonder,” DZA smokes the beat by spitting a host of lyrical jewels as Dave East amps up the action on the hook. The underground champions didn’t have to tell us their talents were limitless…We already knew!
2) RECOGNIZE ALI & HUS KINGPIN deliver cinematic rhymes over a compelling sonic canvass laced by Sultan Mir on the brand new “City Of Gods.” The lyricists grab the track by the throat and refuse to let go as they enter the scene like stealth assassins committed to the kill. It’s a powerful display of creative talent that demands to be heard & will NEVER be overlooked!
3) San Antonio’s PHREE-BASS SAMPULZ brought a full force of Boom Bap action to the arena on the CONWAY featured, “B.I.D.S.” from the duo’s “XP8” project. Producer, Mikey Strange, gives Baby Aztro & The Machine plenty of soulful 70’s era rhythms to groove to(watch out for that ill flute that pops in on the sneak tip!)and they do just that as the intense spitters body the track!
4) FONGSAIU teases listeners with another “Blood On My Lawn” gem titled, “Szechuan Delight.” Mr. Rogers’ child-friendly theme graciously ushers us into the neighborhood before the emcee shatters all pleasantries with that raw, hardcore s***t we’ve come to expect from the spitter on the rise! The true delight is hearing Fongsaiu’s aggressive flow and ‘take no prisoners’ subject matter on an ill track. Word on the street is that he’s a suspect. If the crime is delivering dope music, he’s definitely guilty!
5) DANIEL SON gets reflective while cruising through the city & delivers a jazzy, laid back Selrok laced gem called “Son Rise” in the process. The determined super-spitter watches people falling prey to negativity, but refuses to be pulled under by the surrounding drama. Grinding ’til the sun comes up, darkness remains in the lyricist’s rear view as he speeds ahead to success!
6) JOURNALIST 103 works hard to evade the Illuminati while spitting lyrical power over Sultan Mir’s brilliant Boom Bap laden-production on “Evil Eye.” The “A Battle For The Hearts And Minds” banger allows the artist to cover a variety of topics ranging from the way he was treated by his family to the sad state of affairs concerning the lyrics and appearance of today’s rappers. “Evil Eye” proves Journalist 103 is a force to be reckoned with. We don’t know what he’s up to next but we’re keeping an eye on him!
7) Orlando, Florida’s MIDAZ THE BEAST destroys every microphone he touches! Add esteemed emcees, PLANET ASIA & MURDOC, to the mix and you get “Cunning Lyricists.” The ultra-talented trio touch down on a back drop of soulful, exotic rhythms & catch wreck with the kind of witty wordplay, colorful alliteration, and masterful metaphors few artists can successfully deliver. Check for these three spitters at ALL times. They’ve got lyrics to go!
8) CARL ROE tells us where he’s from with a powerful assist from DJ REVOLUTION on the 1 & 2’s & dope head-nodding production from Nottz on “S.State St.” The Seattle spitter brings us into the action by quoting David Byrne’s “Once In A Lifetime,” then catapults us into further Boom Bap glory from there. There’s lots of things poppin’ on S.State St, but surely nothing more cherished than the lyrics of Carl Roe!
9) SUPREME CEREBRAL was definitely playin’ for keeps when he created the deluxe edition of his “Master Builders” album! For starters, the lyrical heavy hitter added 4 dope new cuts to the project…and one of them featured earth-shattering bars from microphone juggernauts, HUS KINGPIN, ROZEWOOD & PLANET ASIA. On the Clypto produced, “Royce Gracie,” each emcee showcases distinctive flows and verses that will force other rappers to step up their pen game…ASAP! The music industry is no place for the weak of heart…but these emcees prove time & time again they possess the strength to survive!
10) With Election Day right around the corner(or over & done with depending on the time you read this article), it makes sense that LA COKA NOSTRA would provide commentary about the “good” ol’ U.S.A. on “America.” The APATHY featured banger reminds us that corruption rules in the land where the “Blacks get shot up by the cops”, so any promise of positive change should be taken with a grain of salt. Instead of following “false idols” who keep telling us how they will make our lives better, we’d rather look inward and do it on our own.
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
