It’s a holiday weekend, but instead of visiting friends & family, hanging out at the beach, or popping bottles at the club you only have one thing on your mind….Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten list! That’s why we have it for you below. Now settle in & get started…
1) Ea$y Money brought out the big guns for “Connected,” from his forthcoming “The Motive Of Nearly Everybody. Yo” album. First, Showoff Records founder, STATIK SELEKTAH, laced him with production, then the emcee enlisted rhyme animals WAIS P, ROB WHITE, and JOEY BADA$$ to add the lyrical fury they’re known for. Interminably linked by their artistry, these lyricists will forever embody the heart & soul of Hip Hop’s underground. Stay connected…and Free Wais P!
2) INSPECTAH DECK, 7L & ESOTERIC(collectively known as CZARFACE)teamed up with the mighty METHOD MAN to deliver an earth-shattering new gem called “Nightcrawler.” Bombastic beats, rhymes, and cartoon samples collide to create sonic destruction on a global scale. But it’s the kind of catastrophe we love! Where else can you go to find Hip Hop this pure? Nowhere…That’s where! We’re already proclaiming the forthcoming “Every Hero Needs A Villain” album a classic(no pressure guys)! With talent this amazing it’s all but assured.
3) MILKCRATE & THAGODFAHIM merged their respective talents together and fueled our fire for financial success with “Dream About It.” Boom-bap action combined with impressive lyrics & a smooth flow highlight a track that details the consequences of striving for a life of opulence. Whether you’re inspired by Jordan Belfort or Jay Z, know that the climb to success leaves collateral damage in its wake. The cars, the homes, and women look good on TV…but “it ain’t always what it seems.”
4) A$AP ROCKY experimented with new musical styles on “LSD” and came up with a winner! We first heard the psychedelic track in rough demo form and immediately doubted it was from the lyricist. We THOUGHT we knew what an A$AP Rocky song sounded like, but the Harlem spitter thoroughly schooled us…proving that we didn’t know ish! When an artist so skilled at giving his fans a certain type of product makes a left turn & still succeeds, you have to get excited. Well, we are! There’s no doubt in our minds that the forthcoming “A.L.L.A.” album will exceed all expectations. That release combined with Rocky’s acting debut in the sure to be summer sleeper “DOPE” will grant him an exalted position in the industry.
5) ST. LAZ made things extremely difficult for us this week. He had two dope cuts in contention for our Top Ten that launched our staffers into a violent, bloody massacre that hasn’t been seen since the likes of “BraveHeart!” Ultimately “Congo” won out. Its infectious jungle rhythm layered with Laz’s immaculate flow sent us into a state of Hip Hop ecstasy. This joint is HARD! St. Laz may be New York’s prophet, but WE’RE the ones who see a bright and divine future for this incredible emcee.
6) DEMRICK & DJ HOPPA are collaborating on what’s sure to be the banger of the season with their upcoming “Stoney Point” project. In case you had any doubts about the the kind of quality to expect, the artists recruited JARREN BENTON & MADCHILD to drop glorious bars of lyrical excellence on “Nobody’s Safe.” Each emcee knows their way around colorful metaphors, creative imagery & distinctive flows. You don’t just listen to Demrick, DJ Hoppa & Co. You EXPERIENCE them! If breathtaking beats and rhymes are what you’ve been waiting for, look no further!
7) NAZO BRAVO joined forces with RAS KASS & RAMPAGE to take us on a trip to the past with “Hip Hop Baby.” The Armenian-American artist name checks a host of Hip Hop legends & reflects on a variety of memorable encounters that occurred during the movement’s golden era. Nazo, Ras & Rampage showcase true lyrical finesse over a raw beat that recalls the early 90’s Westside funk that influences the top producers to this day. Nazo isn’t one to rest on his laurels. The lyricist created a documentary about his recent visit to Armenia & Hip Hop’s global impact. It’s an eye-opening & entertaining history lesson that you can check out on YouTube. We implore everyone to watch!
8) New Jersey’s Underdog, PAPISTORZ, better get ready for major shine in the limelight, because “Get It How U Live,” featuring SWERV & SNYPLIFE is guaranteed to garner him a lot of attention. This track is what New York Hip Hop is known for…It’s raw, gritty and uncompromising. These emcees take no shorts on the lyrical front…and if you want to be inundated with autotune or down south sounding tracks, you ain’t gettin’ it here!
9) DJ PSYCHO crafted an irresistibly funky joint called “Who Is That?” and requested the talents of SWERVE 916 to serve as rhyme ambassador for the aural adventure. Swerve playfully rides the beat with his smooth vocals and raises the bar for high level Hip Hop entertainment. It’s more than just a song. It’s the coveted centerpiece jewel on the Convergent Sounds tape, “Sound Family Vol. 1.”
10) The quality we respect the most about DA ILLEST is his persistence. He is the epitome of the hungry emcee who stays on his grind no matter what. Hate on him, talk trash, try to derail his plans…none of it matters because he’ll always bounce back! That kind of tenacity is what allows him to link up with heavy hitters like 50 CENT & KOKANE on “Bout My Paper.” The Dready produced track possesses an eerie, electric and hypnotically sinister groove that kept our finger on the repeat button. All the lyricists sound energized as if they’re ready for war. In an era of dull, slow-witted, marble-mouthed rap flows, that, my friends, is a rarity…
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON”T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
