It’s Super Bowl Sunday. You’ve got a nice spread, a six-pack, and your big screen TV ready to go…Then it hits you…You forgot the most important thing of all…INSOMNIAC’S WEEKLY TOP TEN! Yeah, it might be game time. But when it comes to droppin’ serious heat, the artists below ain’t playin!!!
1) Choosing STATIK SELEKTAH’s latest gem, “The Curve,” for the #1 slot was a no-brainer. First off, you have flawless, hardcore tag team action from brothers-in-rhyme, WESTSIDE GUNN & CONWAY, followed by a barrage of meticulously-crafted bars from YOUR OLD DROOG and a savage, powerhouse turn from TERMANOLOGY as he brings the whole thing home! Add Brady Watt’s live bass to the mix and of course above par production from Statik himself & you emerge from the studio with a certified winner!
2) SHIRT made his feelings about racism & the onslaught of police brutality known on “Poor People’s March,” and in the process created a masterpiece! The Trac-Quada power anthem of upliftment digs deep into our souls to stir up the rage we feel when members of our community are attacked without conscience or reason. SHIRT exposes the anger we all feel…and does so brilliantly!
3) WESTSIDE GUNN does double-duty on the countdown with his SKYZOO assisted banger, “50 Inch Zenith.” Once again Statik Selektah laces the Griselda Records mogul in the making with supreme soul from beyond. Lyrics & flow from both emcees mesmerize the listeners, leaving all true heads in a trance. This is that late night head-nod ish. Spark an L!
4) BUMPY KNUCKLES & SY ARI tore into the topic of divorce or separation(specifically focusing on women using their children as bargaining tools) on the DJ Premier produced, “EmOsHuNaL GrEeD.” The feelings of anger, betrayal, and manipulation are all detailed to perfection. It’s a situation that should’ve been addressed a long time ago…and we’re glad these two artists were the men to do it!
5) D.I.T.C. continue to shine with the Showbiz produced banger, “Gotta Be Classic.” A.G. & O.C. deliver agile rhymes & flows honed to perfection from decades of putting in serious work! Golden era or modern era, this crew represents the culture with unlimited creativity & unbeatable skills!
6) AGALLAH FARO linked up with PLANET ASIA for a soul-drenched gem called “Luxorious Murder.” The powerhouse lyricists flexed new flows & traded bars like true beasts on the mic! The Wave Lord & Gold Chain Music General will never steer you wrong. It’s just one example of the “exquisite fly s**t” you’ll find on Agallah’s forthcoming project, “The Legend Of the Water Dragon.”
7) P8tience, A-Dot, and Recipe Aim(CROWN ROYAL) joined forces with H-I for the Paul Cabbin produced, “Uh Huh,” and released a track that provoked deep reflection while simultaneously delivering a compelling groove too infectious to be ignored. The Detroit collective brought power and strength to a debut that foreshadows more can’t-miss music & top quality content for years to come.
8) LADY TY & KING MYERS paid homage to the god Rakim himself with their new MD produced banger, “Microphone Fiend 2K16.” Wisely side-stepping the use of the Average White Band’s “School Boy Crush” sample(You can’t top a classic), the emcees make the concept their own and deliver the goods! It’s an update that must be respected with lyrics of fury that prove they ain’t no joke!
9) AYE WUN brought it home(literally)by delivering an overview of life in the hood on “Red Eye Survival” (The Mecca). The lyricist took flight on the Champ Beatz produced banger that reminded us of golden era Nas(ALWAYS a good thing). If you don’t feel like you’re in the zone, press play on this joint & your focus will be restored!
10) There’s plenty of unreleased heat collecting dust in the music vaults & SCHOTT FREE’s ROC MARCIANO featured “Sake, Me & Rocky” is proof positive of that very statement. Emerging from the “Tom Hagen Tragedy” LP, which never saw the light of day, we now receive a track that was too combustible to be contained!
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
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