Slaine drops video Source of Power Teddy Roxpin beat

This is not just a new video from Slaine - backed by Teddy Roxpin - but a cut off of the LEEDZ Ent comp, Eastern Standard. 

Slaine has had many killer verses. And as quickly as you can point to bragadacious bars that will silence any MC; or Slaine's vividly descriptive tales of crime, drugs and guns - all while hammering multi-syllabic bars relentlessly; he is stunning when he turns his words towards the world of politics.
SLaine continuously expresses honest vulnerability and exposes regrets; turning his hard road into parables of experience. But going back to his verses on "Man Made Ways" from DC The MIDI-Alien's Avenger Airwaves compilation, East Coast Avengers "Lady Liberty", or on Virtuoso's "Fahrenheit 911", Slaine rips through the bullshit and pierces the veil of American social civility.

Diamond Media 360 offers Slaine's explanation of this joint. "We seem to have this human condition where we seek power and validation from outside sources when really we have the ultimate power in and around us at all times,” states Slaine. But do mistake Slaine for some generic motivation meme. As Roxpin's drums pound toward a finish line, Slaine spits,

“Is it fear that we suffer from or lack of it?/ Where do we go now? Who do we turn to?

 When does it slow down? Who do we learn through?/

Through a history of imperious acts/ I still move with my spirit intact.”

This messaging reflects back to Slaine's verse on "Lady Liberty" in fact. He deconstructs and demolishes both left and right, media, and America's egregious hypocrisies. But he ends with:

Who do we trust now when we can't even trust us?

There's no peace we can find, there' ain't no justice

Just a war going on against each of us

We need to reach down deep and start speaking up

Cause everybody's illing when the buildings blow up

But what's gonna happen when our children grow up?

But back to "Source of Power" - examining personal motivation of the beaten and disenfranchised and the greed of the wealthy and privileged  the hook boasts: "hunger, vision, fury, discipline - survival, resilience, shine to a brilliance"

Slaine paints pictures - "ice in my veins, Hell in my eyes" - with mesmerizing imagery; playing with words like Mozart did notes. Slaine's lyrics bounce and punch as Roxpin uses echoed/big drums, played nice and loose. A high register note dances within its spectrum to add contrast while staying rough and raw.

Director, Ben Proulx, for Project 2 Studios, illuminates the conflict inherent with confrontational visuals. Disturbing and challenging images extrapolate the words of Slaine in a necessary exposition.

In addition to Slaine, the compilation features a sick 1-2 punch with Blacastan and Marvalyss on "Mechanical Movement" on a hypnotic tonal gem. Check Chris Rivers and Rite Hook on a raging track, "The Motions".  Natti and Deacon The Villain (both of CunninLynguists), Rite Hook and B Dolan combining that MA/RI connection - with a Hammond heavy, harmonica and piano popping bluesy joint - Soulful!!! Chris Orrick on a nostalgic trip as he often does over a captivating beat, and Granite State showing up again. Spose kills it with a dope beat and a hilarious but down to earth track about the struggles of underground rapper. STL GLD, Mega Ran, and many others validate this 21 track, 75 minute compilation.

Best of 2017 Hip Hop

HIPHOP - not in specfic order - but pretty damn close.

Check this Spotify list - 3+ hours of tracks from these and many others - including singles from favorites not listed here.

OC + Apathy Perestroika Dirty Version – My best of. Hands down Aps rapid delivery of complex bar structures contrasted with OC's laid back, casual style plays beautifully. Ap made 90% of the beats - find samples and quotes and that continually support the Perestroika theme. It's a genius boom bap album. Plus, guests like Slaine on "Tomorrow is Gone" with all telling 3 stories of their Northeastern homes is genuine. The opener is the best, an unstoppable banger, killer beat with AP's nastiest verse. But songs like "Whats It All About" addresses society's and personal stress over a seductive piano solidiofy the sincerity of this project. Peppered with classic Boom bap like "Soviet Official" (a soulful head nod) , "stompcrushkillmode" w/ Celph, and "Covey Leader to Raven" just as bragadocious gold. "Winter Winds" is relelntless with Ap's verse and the vocal loop for the verse and ODB sample in the hopok.

Slaine + Termanology AntiHero Brick/ST records: ..probably #2 for real. vicious lyrical ability by both and multiple syllable schemes. When you have been doing this for as long as these two - as skilled as these two - you cultivate killer support: Preemo beat with Bun B and Everlast; Evidence beat; Statik beat with Madchild + DJ Revolution; and that's tracks 2, 3, and 4. Other names include beats by more Statik, Willy Loman, Psycho Les, Arcitype, and DC the Midi Alien; MCs include Chris Rivers ("Bringing Much Terror" - Oooohhh!!!! pure banger), Ill Bill, Nems, Ea$y Money, and Ras Kass. But Again here you get mind bending wordplay of Slaine and Term on top of their vivid storytelling.

Blu + Exile In the Beginning: Before the Heavens FatBeats

Classic, funky, west coast hip hop – sample driven and bluesy. Multiple instruments sampled here, piano, strings, and horns. Blu embodies smart lyrics passed through sick flows. His lyrics are descriptive (with a phrase like "takes more than water for a flower to grow" while still talking drugs and guns in community; so not hippie shit. Just insightful. Gives mad respect to old school). Great to here new Compton stories what aren't rehashed from what we grew up with. "On the Radio" is a classic jam that will get you nostalgic while appreciating a fresh breath. 

Sean Price Imperius Rex My favorite rapper. riP! At first i didn't deep dive because it felt like a posthumous release, kinda clunky. I still think a few songs in the middle with avg guests and beats i would drop; but considering sentimentality and P’s bars, i have been rocking this frequently! Beats by Nottz, Stu Bangas, 4th Disciple, Alchemist and Marco Polo. plus some new dudes.

MC Eiht + Brenk Sinatra + DJ Premier – which way iz west Year Round Records

We have all waited for this for years, it was disappointing to hear it would not be all preemo beats (feels like this happens.) But I was a huge fan of the Brenk EP Keep It Hood. So here he get hood legend, Eiht, banging over dope beats with great guests like Bumpy, WC, DAZ, Chill (CMW), and the greatest surprise, Lady of Rage murdering her 16. Amazing LP here.

Planet Asia + Apollo Brown Anchovies Mello Music Group - Apollo reinvents himself while still concocting tracks with his formula. Samples galore but this exhibits a minimalist approach from Apollo; sparse elements as the foundation is perfect for PA's flow. Planet Sia is in my top 10 - and i never tire of his lyrics even as he bangs out 2-3 LPs each year. "The Aura" is sublime. "Panties" is the jam. "Deep in the Casket" kills. Fly Shit.

Kool G Rap + MOSS Return of the Don Clockwork -smooth '70s soul with a GOAT top5 telling gangsta stories.  

Muggs + Mayhem Gems from the Equinox Soul Assassins -spooky, dark; classic Muggs with killer bars by Mayhem. I have loved every Muggs collabo and this solidifies the legacy.

KOSS Born to Live Slice of Spice …obviously. Ad for this read: “I just use turntables, vinyl and an MPC, That's it." Belgium producer with a soul drenched touch. Guest include Masta Ace, Keith Murray, Blaq Poet, Craig G, Ruste Juxx, and Torae. even more.

Pawz One Pick Your Poison Pawz One Music / Dopeshit Music -  actual guitar bass and drums here - playing funky tunes with energy and punch. "Wish You Weren't Here" is great specimen, add his Pawz bard, a redman sample for the hook and ill scratches. Love hearing Mykill Myers on a track - so cool. "Front to Back" bangs as the album's opener. Loved Pawz' Face the Facts and Def by Stereo. The dopeness here is pushing the boundary like 90s Too $hort, MC Breed, and even NWA. Remember real instrumentation? Goats? Roots? (discounting intro, interlude, outro) There are 12 tracks only 5 have guests. So Pawz shows he can carry an LP. But when gets the guests.... hot damn. Shabaam Sahdeeq (jazz soaked trumpet and guitar), El Da Sensei, King Magnetic + Cheif Kamachi, Talib Kweli + Main Flow, and the Myers track - which is a rollicking funk fest with horns and piano over the best and a sick hook with Das Efx and Artifacts' sample. 

M-Dot Ego and The Enemy EMS Produuctions - Boston vet delivers the full package here. Check my review here. 

Blacastan + Stu Bangaz The Uncanny Adventures of Watson & Holmes Brick Records / Brutal Music - whether on his relentless mixtapes - Master Builder Patr II - or Blac Sabbath or on AOTP or DGZ - Blacastan stands out with storytelling, bars, and personality. Having a consistent producer on an entire LP helps this cohesive project. Great follow up to the first installment. Stu's style of MPC chop and loop sampling gets heads to respect his game.

Your Old Droog Packs oooohhh, I love his laid back style; smokey and jazzy. His EP hooked me. This full length begins with a bold track, "GKAC". It's brilliant. Then "Bangledesh" and "Grandma Hips" back to back - is way too fonky. Dude can rap.

Edo G Freedom 5th & Union - The lord of Boston just keeps doing Edo; nasty flow and social commentary with multis. Great beats. I'll buy everything this man ever releases. 

Roc Marciano Rosebudd’s Revenge Marci / Fat Beats 15 tracks - only 2 guest verses. Roc has been doing this! From The UN to his solo work like Reloaded, Marcberg and Marci Beacoup, his unique style - like he needs a translator and demands repeated listens - he creates worlds and one of the most original styles. Plus, his beats are ridiculous - matching his sparse and minimal wordsmithing. No one here is a super name, but he exploits each opportunity to spit straight fire.

King Magnetic Everything Happens 4 a Reason King Mag Music - AOTP and solo vet from Philly, comes with a captivating album. Not the best rapper, but King has bars and killer beats which are thick and funky. Sampling the trinity, horns, keys, strings. This is east coast boom bap for 2018. This road dawg's subjects are heartfelt, down to earth, while still being hard.

Thirstin Howl III Skillmatic (self) 2018. Are you kidding me? TH III returns with a full on classic. You have to adjust to his flow and delivery style -  but beats bang and he’s entertaining as fuck.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: not in order

Fokis Underground with Commercial Appeal

Madchild The Darkest Hour

Rock Rockness AP

Ruste Juxx International Juxxe – grimy and gritty – boom bap – all collabos with varied MCs from the world)

Masta Killa Loyalty is Royalty

Heavy Metal Kings Black God White Devil - Ill Bill and Vinnie Paz return with metal themed tracks putting Goretex on most tracks. 

Skyzoo The Peddler Themes

Showbiz + AG Take It Back

WuTang The Saga Continues 

Raekwon The Wild  *"Can't You See" is top5 single of this year.

Wordsworth Our World Today

Nutso REDSunday

Local Mu12 comp Everday People

Milano Constantine The Way We Were

Alpha Faktion Creative Control

PMD Business Mentality

Phat Kat + DJ Dister The S.O.S. Project