by Dan O

Sleep on me now ,it’s fine, but you’ll be standing in line to buy my T-shirt in two years. I warned you.

The Defcee x Boathouse album For All Debts Public and Private was my favorite album of 2022 for a while (so much has come out in such a short time). I love it because it’s a Godzilla album where the MC decides that its time to kick the city down and breathe fire. Following the deeply personal empathic socio-political statement of Trapdoor (with Messiah Musik) Defcee did what all artists should allow themselves…he walked off in the other direction. Songs like Recollect and Dunk Contest have incredible battle rap flex moments like “…had my first daughter and let the industry raise my sons.”

Ragnarok is such a great moment, not just for the album but for this independent hip hop scene. The beat is very Boathouse in the sense that it burbles and bumps spiraling into a trance that draws you deep inside. Defcee references being low but being called to where he is now. For years Defcee put out great music and never got the recognition he is getting now. That’s a great reason to let Kipp Stone dominate this song. Kipp doesn’t have boisterous delivery or lots of adorable ad libs. Kipp Stone raps like its easy, saying in this verse “if not the best kept secret, at least a nominee.” It’s hard to find a better representation of what the album is about. Sleep on me now ,it’s fine, but you’ll be standing in line to buy my T-shirt in two years. I warned you. That warning extends to Kipp knowingly because Defcee has an ear for craft and desire. Listen and then listen again.

Buy For All Debts Public and Private below:

https://defcee.bandcamp.com/album/for-all-debts-public-and-private