With all the madness going on in the world there’s one place you can always visit for a peaceful respite. It’s right here with your favorite sleep-deprived staff as we present the latest edition of Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten! Yeah, we know you’re ready. So check the sounds as the ish goes down!
1) ELOH KUSH KNOWS HIP HOP! That was evident when we chopped it up with the rising artist in a recent interview and its never been more clear than on the DUS produced Mega-Track featuring JOHN ROBINSON, EL DA SENSEI, AG & STAHHR called “B Boy Bonanza.” The joint took us back to the days when they use to do it out in the park! It was a time when the hardest beats had people jumping and lyrics actually MATTERED! All the emcees RIP the track with devastating mic skills that would make any B-Boy proud. This ain’t no ordinary celebration y’all! Get yourself in gear & experience the bonanza!
2) HODGY BEATS thinks he has us fooled but we’re on to him. Here’s the formula – Join one of the most exciting & controversial groups in the past few years. Get overshadowed by several members. Watch the group disband. Reemerge as a solo artist. Hook up with the hottest producers in the game. Then become one of the “GREATS!” Yeah, keep tryin’ to play us Hodgy…but your new Jake One laced banger is NO JOKE! Stop fakin’ the funk. There’s nothing ordinary about you. Your secret’s been exposed!
3) MEAN JOE SCHEME had the entire staff partying the day away when we pressed play on his Optiks produced funk epic, “Ultra Jim Beam!” Powered by an irresistible groove that sounds like Black Moon’s “Ni*uz Talk S**t” played live at the New Orleans jazz fest, the celebratory track made us salute Joe’s prodigious mic skills and Optiks’ incredible behind the boards mastery. You can’t just play this song once…It’s impossible. So keep it on rotation until the end of time. This track deserves all of the accolades it receives!
4) JUNIOR MAKHNO unearthed a rare gem from his vast collection of high quality productions & released a G8ABAK featured tour de force titled “Gladigator!” This monstrous slice of sonic artillery is one of the bangers from Junior’s forthcoming “Clandestiny” project and it delivers on every count! You want dope lyrics? They’re here. You wanna hear dope cuts? Dj Trickalome’s got ya! You want dope production? We already told you it doesn’t get any better! Play this ish…then play it again LOUDER! These guys BREATHE Hip Hop. The force is strong!
5) SUPREME CEREBRAL proves he’s master of the game with the Clypto produced, “Champion Chips.” The soul-drenched track flaunts a show-stopping mic attack from a lyricist so ahead of his peers they might need a time machine to catch up! It’s that REAL gritty street ish only a choice few can deliver. Supreme Cerebral’s just giving you a taste of the action. There’s plenty more excitement to come!
6) KILLER BEN x PHIL THE AGONY x ROC MARCIANO x DIRTYDIGGS took us back to 2010 with a release from the vaults titled “Cristal.” The track possesses an electrified intensity made even more urgent by ace lyrical turns from Ben, Phil & Roc. We love Hip Hop artists passionate about their craft. These guys exude a powerful sense of enthusiasm enhanced by monumental mic skills & DirtyDiggs’ creative genius behind the boards!
7) In our opinion two crews are runnin’ underground Hip Hop today – #TheWinners & Griselda Records(GXFR). Stylistically and technically, each collective consistently delivers the goods & at one time shared a camaraderie & respect rarely seen in this cutthroat industry. Unfortunately all of that seems to have dissolved in recent months. HUS KINGPIN & ROZEWOOD address the situation brilliantly and beautifully on the new track, “Love Day.” The details are laid out bare for all to hear & contemplate. We dream of a day where both camps will once again sit down, break bread, and bang out some hits together in the studio…but until then, they’re former allies divided. Accept them as they are.
8) SONNYJIM’s forthcoming “Mud In My Malbec” album is shaping up to be an intriguing project as evidenced by the snippets & singles released to the public. The latest drop is the WESTSIDE GUNN featured “Red Mullet” which serves up a sinister soundscape for the lyricists to tear to pieces. Don’t f**k with them! Laawdd, they’re too dangerous! ‘Just makes us want to listen even more!
9) TOMMY NOVA x JUGA-NAUT combined the best of both worlds by bridging the gap between Nottingham & The Bronx on a dope gem titled “Reign.” The track showcases ill flows and head-nodding beats on a joint that serves as a prelude to their forthcoming “Juga-Nova” project. It’s a breath of fresh air in a stale industry. We recommend you press play!
10) WALE teamed up with PHIL ADE for a sonic slideshow of nostalgia on a funky revamp of Pete Rock & CL Smooth’s classic, “T.R.O.Y.” Touching a track like this can be comparable to desecrating hallowed ground if executed incorrectly. Luckily Wale & Phil work wonders on this slowed down version of a song that means so much to so many. We need something to hold on to when the darkness takes over. Enter the light…and “Reminisce.”
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
