All good things must come to an end…EXCEPT for Insomniac’s Weekly Top Ten! Catch up on the latest Hip Hop heat by checking out the list below…
1) JOEY BADA$$ delivered feel good vibes & dope lyricism over glorious Statik Selektah produced Boom Bap showcased on “Brooklyn’s Own.” Truth be told, Joey hasn’t sounded this hungry since his “1999” mixtape days. You instinctively sense that the Pro Era General is enjoying himself & that feeling permeates throughout the entire song. Statik complements every inflection or musical cadence with infectious, pulsating rhythms that hammer home the fact that he’s one of the best behind the boards architects in the game! “Brooklyn’s Own” was designed as a tribute to Biggie. It’s that & so much more as Hip Hop heads everywhere can rejoice in the knowledge that quality music of this level still exists!
2) J-ZONE tells it like it is on the hilarious and (BRUTALLY) honest, “Go Back To Sellin’ Weed.” The scathing, self-produced gem addresses the “rap squeegee men” who write bulls**t rhymes & stand around hustlin’ their CDs on Times Square. We’ve all seen ’em or at the very least KNOW about ’em…and the lyricist wastes no time eviscerating each & every ass clown who dares to make a mockery of the craft. Hopefully non-talented wannabes will learn a lesson or two from the song. EVERYBODY CAN”T RAP! Go back to sellin’ weed!
3) BIG TWINS & TWIZ THE BEAT PRO smacked up the competition on “Straight Face” from their forthcoming “TNT” collabo project. Some might say the duo had an unfair advantage by enlisting mic beast, KILLER BEN, for the lyrical beatdown but the opposition should’ve come prepared! This is one of those joints you turn up LOUD for maximum effect. The “TNT” album is bound to blow up! We can say that with a straight face.
4) DANIEL SON has mastered the art of delivering dope flows over soul-drenched grooves. Charting on our countdown with the PhybaOptikz produced, “Man Power,” the Brown Bag Money lyricist returns to the chart with the Vic Grimes laced track, “Rag Top Porsches.” Top notch mic skills combined with quality production win out every time! This track’s got ’em both. Daniel Son rides away victorious!
5) WESTSIDE GUNN tapped in-house production champ, Daringer, for another stellar soundscape & enlisted DANNY BROWN for “Bodies On Fairfax” from the newly released “FLYGOD” album. Although the match up appeared odd at first, it makes sense on reflection since both lyricists have two of the most distinctive voices in the game. Danny kicks things off, appearing to struggle with the beat before finding his footing…but it’s Gunn(who has a habit of snatching the shine away from his collaborators) who delivers the knock out punch & brings home the win. Bodies lay scattered across Fairfax as the Griselda Records kingpin leaves without a trace…
6) NUTSO dropped a new Statik Selektah produced banger titled “Sum Otha Sh!t” & brought some extra lyrical firepower to the arsenal by adding EA$Y & TERMANOLOGY to the mix. Ill lines like “I been a million levels above these rap guys/ updated my mami, now she got cat eyes” ensured that the track would have an honored placement on the list. These guys might be on Sum Otha Sh!t, but it’s the kind’a s**t we love!
7) MARVELOUS MAG always seems to gain an added dose of creative inspiration when teaming up with his #TheWinners brethren, HUS KINGPIN & SMOOVTH. On the new track, “Rooftop Rap,” the ultra-talented trio showcase that magical synergy fans are drawn to by blessing the jazzy cut with their respective mic skills…and producing a true gem in the process.
8) BORVOE MCMIDNITE possesses aesthetic sensibilities & a flow reminiscent of Earl Sweatshirt and a certain Venomous Villain…but seconds into “Bonfire” it becomes clear that the rising lyricist is carving a star-driven path of his own! The RVST COLE produced banger was so compelling we played it once…twice…and have kept it on our office rotation ever since. The accompanying Her Vision helmed video also stood out for being brilliant in its simplicity. The director eschews any camera trickery to stay firmly focused on a close up of McMidnite’s face. It proves once & for all that expensive locations & visual effects are unnecessary when you have a true star on the screen.
9) Rochester, NY’s MAVERICK MONTANA, RIGZ, ILLANOISE, SYMPH, and TIMESCHANGE merged like Voltron into a rhyme collective called DA CLOTH to pay homage to Notorious B.I.G. on a STAN DA MAN produced banger titled “March 9th.” A barrage of dope bars & beats are exactly what’s needed to honor the Hip Hop legend. These guys delivered the goods! We know Big Poppa’s smiling.
10) The pairing of Motif Alumni’s amazing production with O.C’s powerful rhymes have proven to be a winning combination for D.I.T.C. It worked last week with “Caviar Dreams” & they chart on the list again with “4 Da Block.” The track has both a triumphant & nostalgic vibe designed to motivate the listeners. O.C. takes on the role of knowing observer as he empathizes with people in neighborhoods close to home & worldwide who struggle to make ends meet. Whether you’re making money on the block or in the boardroom, the hustle never ends. D.I.T.C. drive the point home with an uplifting track well-worthy of praise.
Well that’s it for this week. Catch ya next time and…DON’T SLEEP!
– Kevin Keith
