You know when you genuinely want to see good people doing well? That’s exactly how I feel when the name Asun Eastwood comes to mind. As much of a distinguished gentleman as he is, the Scarborough, Toronto emcee is also quickly rising to the top ranks within the Hip Hop hierarchy. At a time when there’s a ton of music to go around, Asun plays it smart at a steady pace, opting to drop quality projects over numbers. For his latest release, “With All Due Respect,” he teams up with Finn, one of my favorite beat makers from up North.
On the affectionately titled “Papa P,” Ace gives a touching dedication to his father (whose voice is heard in the beginning of the track), and the life lessons he taught him. “Drab” features Rome Streetz, and both emcees effortlessly unleash filthy rhymes over the drumless backdrop that also has an experimental pitch up in Asun’s voice. I was excited to see a guest appearance from Eto on “Swanson Vitamins,” in which the verbal mechanics and the production were an audible delight to my ears. Asun will never fold, and solidifies through his wordplay how he’s earned the position he’s in on “God Built Me Like This.” The closing joint is the refreshingly introspective “Soul’s Mystery,” in which Finn (who also runs Dark Black Media), held down with the complimentary visuals.
Other noteable guest appearances include Saipher Soze, Rigz and Daniel Son. There are unique characteristics about both Asun and Finn, which you get a feel for when listening to their collaboration. Ace is one of a kind as he combines flamboyance and class, while shaking up the game when he crushes mics with the touches of a true alpha male. Finn has the gift of cheffing custom beats for some of the grimiest spitters, and his soundscapes are powerful, with a blend of subtlety so that it’s not excessively overwhelming. The 9 track offering is available in digital format exclusively at golderamusic.com with vinyl copies being announced shortly. -Hipnotik1
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Only a true listener and fan can describe “With All Due Respect” like this all while giving intricacies of production and rhyme styles.