Wait a minute…Is it possible? Yes, it’s time once again for Insomniac Magazine to bring you The Weekly Top Ten straight out of our Hidden HQ. We’ve received raves as well as our share of flak(“What?!? Big Sean, Drake & Kanye’s “Blessings” Remix wasn’t in last week’s Top Ten???…What the hell were you guys thinking?!?”) Hey readers, all we can say is that we base our decisions on songs that get constant rotation around the office…NOT the radio! Sometimes it’s about lyrics that make us think…Sometimes it’s about music that maintains or goes beyond the core essence of what Hip Hop means to our collective “brain-trust” & sometimes it’s simply about a track that makes us nod our heads so aggressively, we get whiplash. It’s always fun to listen, but never easy to decide. With that said, let’s get into this week’s Top Ten!
1) WAVE CHAPELLE didn’t just make our entire day. He made our entire MONTH with the release of “New Black History!” The energetic lyricist knows he’s about to blow up big. He even says so himself. “I know it’s my turn, so I’m just bending the wheel.” The emcee feels no pressure. He skillfully cruises through an electrifying, power-house production by Beat Brokers Network like a summer tourist casually strolling on the beach. The song was just the beginning though. You also HAVE to check out the spitter’s new 4-track EP!
2) Interstellar Lyrical Titan, KOOL KEITH, joined forces with rising Star Warrior, DANE UNO, to engage in galactic combat throughout the universe. Armed with lethal production artillery from DJ Junkaz Lou, they launched a sonic attack on lesser emcees and were ordained “Masters of the Universe,” forever ensuring that the populace overseen by the Federation of Planets is protected by the forces of evil. Yes, “Hoodini” warped our minds so much, we invented a back story!
3) THE PURIST creates such richly textured productions that his tracks must be matched with the right lyricists in order to do them justice. So when he enlisted MICK JENKINS for the song “Touch Me,” listeners could breathe easy and say two words…”Problem solved.” All it took was one listen before we found ourselves magically transported to another realm known as QUALITY.
4) GOODBYE TOMORROW literally came out nowhere…or did he? There’s a good chance we may already know this Chicago lyricist…’Nothing’s confirmed…’We’re jus’ sayin.’ Regardless of his identity, the emcee infiltrated everyone’s senses with the track “Jay Z,” and immediately downloaded the video into our brains. Let’s refer to that impressive visual again. The clip represents creativity at its highest level, which of course, further enhances the song’s appeal. Will we receive another track in the next few months? Who knows?!? In the meantime, we’re over here salivating for more!
5) ADRIAN LAU doesn’t just have a song called “James Bond”…He IS James Bond! The Brooklyn emcee stealthily rides Hannibal King’s funkdafied soul production with the same calm demeanor and magnetic presence you would expect from cinema’s #1 super spy. But can Daniel Craig rap? We don’t think so. That’s why Adrian has the edge. There’s no Spectre organization to take him down…Just spectators and fans ready to embrace every project he releases.
6) As expressed earlier, we love artists who bend our expectations of what Hip Hop should be. As long as it’s done in a creative & progressive manner, the Insomniacs in the office tend to appreciate an artist’s efforts. TOWKIO & VIC MENSA are two emcees who aren’t afraid to push the boundaries…and when they team up with another ultra-creative, like-minded spirit such as producer, KAYTRANADA, anything goes! “Involved” brought a new brand of electro-funk to the game & we had an immediate response…”More please!”
7) ACTION BRONSON & THE ALCHEMIST always bring serious heat when they work together, and “Big League Chew” adds another notch to their collective belt of hits. Mr. Wonderful launches into his typical animated display of stream of consciousness lyrics that make us laugh, then sit back in awe as we meditate on his skills!
8) DAVE B is one of those emcees who literally seems unable to do any wrong, but he can definitely “Do That.” The Stewart Villain track provides an incredibly lush backdrop for his smooth delivery & high energy lyrics. Dave always makes excellent choices when it comes to beat selection, because he KNOWS what his fans want to hear. Don’t expect the B train to slow down anytime soon. There are plenty more “loosies” in our future!
9) Sometimes we need that raw, vulgar s@#t! That’s just the way it goes. Squires, The Cynic, & Rapswell aka PEN PALS, crawled out of the sewer and spit their sleazy, infectious debut track at Hip Hop listeners everywhere. Call us masochists, but we loved it! “STFU” will force you to hide the women and children when this crew stomps through your lawn…but that’s okay, because every rose needs smelly fertilizer to survive…and this group knows all about bringin’ the FUNK!
10) We were really feelin’ what BOAZ had to say on “Message 2 My Trappers.” The Pittsburgh spitter took Fabolous’ “Cinnamon Apple” track and used it to address all the fake gangstas out there who have no clue what the mean streets are truly about. The great thing is that the lyricist avoids being preachy and manages to flex his considerable skills while detailing an important message.
That’s Ten. Now we end. Until next time…Don’t Sleep!
– Kevin Keith
