As the holiday weekend draws to a close, you still have one more thing to look forward to…Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten list! The start of the week was actually looking pretty grim until a variety of dope new tracks popped up right before our selection cut off point. If there’s one thing we’ve learned it’s that you can’t keep good music from rising to the top…and if there’s another thing, it’s that Statik Selektah, Action Bronson & DJ Skizz really need to slow down their creative output because other artists need a chance on the countdown too! With that said, it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the Top 10.
1) GIT BEATS & BOB BANNER have been on our list before, but this is the first time they’ve taken possession of the #1 spot…and it’s an honor well-deserved! No one works harder than the Staten Island production mastermind & Queens lyrical sensation. On “Stoned” Bob Banner details the hard work, effort and COLD HARD CASH that goes into building a successful Hip Hop career. We appreciated the emcee’s honesty and respected the skills required to deliver his message without turning the track into a preachy, sob fest. If anything, Bob brings out the humor in the situation which isn’t an easy thing to do when you’re on a tireless grind to achieve your dreams. Speaking of dreams, the track in itself is a fantasy come to life for underground Hip Hop fans everywhere. Git Beats’ unrelenting boom-bap production compel listeners to pump up the volume and keep the song on repeat! All we can say is, if the duo felt underappreciated before, they won’t have that problem once the masses hear “Stoned.”
https://soundcloud.com/gitbeats/git-beats-bob-banner-stoned
2) YOUR OLD DROOG never fails to excite us with his arsenal of colorful metaphors & impressive wordplay. Our unbridled enthusiasm for the lyricist continues with his new track produced by long time collaborator, DJ Skizz, called “We Don’t Know You.” It’s a deceptively low-key, jazz-infused joint that packs a powerful sonic punch to the gut. The kind of punch that knocks you off your feet, makes you take a few minutes to collect your senses, then commands you to pre-order “The Nicest” EP so you can avoid another beatdown July 17th!
3) STATIK SELEKTAH keeps rubbing our noses in dope tracks until the July 7th release date of “Lucky 7.” We already know he’s an incredible producer…but then again, this is the man who helms a show called Showoff Radio, so that could provide some psychological analysis behind the onslaught of hits. If that’s the case, Statik most definitely shows off again with another beloved narcissist – the one & only ROYCE DA 5’9.” Their sonic connection on “Crystal Clear” is..ahem…crystal clear. These are two remarkable entities at the top of their game. We should consider ourselves privileged that they’ve granted us poor slobs permission to listen.
4) DIZZY WRIGHT & DEMRICK are working on a joint project & if “Hundreds Of Thousands” is any indication of what’s to come, we’re in for a treat! The track is dedicated to “everybody who likes to get high and have a good time,” but honestly, you don’t need to be zooted out of your mind to appreciate the laid back funk & free flowing rhymes courtesy of supreme producer, Reezy & Hip Hop’s new dynamic duo. Hundreds of thousands of fans? Make that millions!
5) L’ORANGE & KOOL KEITH continue to drop space age gems from their forthcoming “Time? Astonishing!” project. On this inter-galactic journey MR. LIF is recruited for “Twenty Fifty Three.” He assists with nimble, agile rhymes as L’Orange uncovers advanced alien civilizations with eclectic loops and samples. Kool Keith, as always, travels far beyond the norm with his otherworldly imagery and delivery. He mentions that he “quit rap ’cause I’m tired.” We hope that never EVER happens!
6) JAY ROCK should never be underestimated. He’s the “sleeper cell” of Top Dawg Entertainment, just waiting to be activated so he can explode! Yes, we know…how very un-pc of us. But we get that way when talking about an emcee who refuses to play it safe & gives us the raw lyricism we crave! “Gumbo” is composed of a lush J.LBS soundscape that could’ve worked with an ordinary, middle of the road rapper enlisted for the track…but Jay Rock is far from ordinary and that’s what pushes “Gumbo” over the top!
7) R.A.W. stands for Right Amount of Wrong and is a group composed of DJ/production phenom, DJ SKIZZ and Brooklyn super lyricist, PROBLEMZ. When talent like this link up, magic happens. The first trick…or let’s use the word “miracle” in this case…involved recruiting a hardcore Hip Hop legend(M.O.P’s LIL FAME)to participate in the aural throwdown. Fame’s contribution enhanced a powerful track that was already blessed by two of the best & knocked it into the stratosphere! “Glisten” is just the beginning though, because the duo’s new EP will be available July 31st!
8) THE ALCHEMIST & ACTION BRONSON always create something special when entering the lab & their latest joint “Voodoo” is no exception. Bronson wins again with hilarious, free form rhymes over Alchemist’s soulful 70’s inspired track. It’s certified DOPE and if you expect more cuts like this on the producer’s forthcoming “Retarded Alligator Beats” album you’re out of luck! Why? Because the project is an instrumental only affair. But who cares?!? When you have a creative mastermind like Alchemist behind the boards, no vocals are required!
9) BLU dropped a MONSTER posse cut from his new EP, “The Return,” and he enlisted SENE, DEFINITE & CASHUS KING to make the track a “Thriller!” The joint is a non-stop frenzy of the dopest rhymes you’ll hear today, tomorrow, next week, next year…you get it. When we heard the song one thought popped into our minds…”Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten.” And now that’s where this gem resides.
10) STATIK SELEKTAH slowed down the pace(slightly)with his ACTION BRONSON, AB-SOUL & ELLE VARNER featured joint “ALL YOU NEED.” All we need from Statik is “Lucky 7,” but until it drops, this single showcasing major contributions from these heavy hitters in the game is more than enough to tide us over!
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
