You know what time it is readers! Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten list returns again with more heat for your headphones! The last edition created a lot of debate & discussion…Not just around the office but also from the artists themselves. The incomparable Sean Price BLASTED us for his #8 placement on the charts(with his “Last Time U Closed Your Eyez” collabo with Git Beats, Bob Banner, and Rae Lorenzo) despite ridin’ high in the Top 5 for numerous weeks with various cuts. Hey, we can’t blame him. The man is the epitome of what it means to be a dope lyricist(we wouldn’t have been one of the first magazines to feature him on the cover in the early 90’s, along with the rest of The Boot Camp Clik, if we thought otherwise). All we can say to Sean, and any artist featured here in general, is don’t get hung up on the numbers. Every contender who made the final cut is exceptional. You’re the people that make this job worthwhile & without further adieu, here’s the list…
1) CONSEQUENCE & LUPE FIASCO joined forces for “Countdown” and created a lyrical extravaganza that made the entire staff stand up and cheer! Cons co-produced the irresistibly funky track with Mike Cash & recruited CHRIS TURNER to sing the infectious hook. “I just keep countin’ ’cause I know we’re #1.” You certainly are. Speak it into existence and it becomes reality…
2) GIT BEATS and BOB BANNER delivered a new single from the “Get Mad, Turn Green” project & once again turned to RAE LORENZO for another impressive feature. The track, “New York,” exudes as much power as the city itself with raw lyrics, moody background harmonies & a hypnotic beat laced with a slight yet effective guitar riff. Forget Sinatra. From this point on, when people refer to “that city that doesn’t sleep”, they’ll remember THIS song.
https://soundcloud.com/gitbeats/git-beats-x-bob-banner-new-york-ft-rae-lorenzo
3) SLUM VILLAGE & DE LA SOUL merged their lyrical talents to flow over a J Dilla production that made everyone in the office say “Yes!” in agreement. “Right Back” contains dense beats & piano chords arranged in the signature style of the beloved, late production master. Pos kicks things off with meditative bars of worldly insight & we sit back and enjoy as the adventure begins…
https://soundcloud.com/official-slumvillage/right-back-feat-de-la-soul
4) DAVE EAST dropped a new gem from Noisey’s “SALEWDS” mixtape called “God Given” that served as a reminder of the Harlem emcee’s genius on the m-i-c. Most lyricists boast about how great they are. The difference with Dave is that unlike the others, when Mr East spits a few bars, you realize he’s telling the truth!
5) Virginia’s LOCKE KAUSHAL made us all feel young again as he playfully dipped in & out of the groove on “Fountain Of Youth.” The track straddled the line between Hip Hop and R & B in such a clever way that it immediately caught our attention. We’re not sure what this rising talent is planning next, but whatever it is we’ll be listening!
6) EASY MO BEE & EMSKEE enlisted SAINT & DUMI RIGHT to break down the sorry state of “Black Radio.” Members of the Insomniac crew have played major roles in the creation of historic Hip Hop radio shows, so we can relate to this topic all too well. Saint & Dumi Right recount the days when musical innovation & ground-breaking artists ruled the airwaves. The legendary Easy Mo Bee provides the perfect sonic backdrop for the lyricists’ reflections & DJ Emskee’s super-charged cuts. We may never be able to return to those golden days of yesteryear, but at least we have this song as a reminder.
7) FREE ACKRITE hit listeners with scorching, self-empowering lyrics strengthened by a Giovanni produced track on “I Am.” Don’t be fooled by the mellow groove. The emcee’s intent is clear. He knows that you like him because of his successes, but wouldn’t even glance his way if he failed. That’s okay though. Get as comfortable as you want…but you’re about to get dropped from the team.
8) DEMRICK & DJ HOPPA teamed up with DIZZY WRIGHT for their latest release from the “Stoney Point” album & continued their unbeatable track record of consistently dropping dope material for the masses. “Clouds Above Us” showcases a laid back groove that allows the lyricists to give their all on the mic. Bars upon bars of superior material invade the booth. This is the stuff Hip Hop dreams are made of…
9) CYRUS THA GREAT knows exactly how to get our attention with a track! His slow-crawl, sinister soundscape for “Crime And Punishment” is incessantly mesmerizing. Combine that with a tour de force lyrical performance by ROC MARCIANO and you have a surefire winner on the charts. Cyrus is releasing an album called “King Kong Ain’t Got S@#t On Me” June 19th. We have to co-sign that statement. Even the over-sized primate would bow in the presence of this production mastermind.
10) CASSIDY reinforced a belief we’ve had for a long time on “Who Gone Help Me.” The emcee states that he has to grind endlessly on the solo tip because no one can or will put a better effort into his career than himself. So true! Well, that grind definitely paid off because Mr. Chicken always brings the heat. As he rides the soulful groove of the track, we reflect on our own struggles. People may consistently try to keep us down, but they’re a mere roadblock toward our destiny at the top.
So that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON”T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
