by Dan O

Not Fade Away by Jesse The Tree and Andrew

One of those albums that gets a lot better each time I listen to it. Real music nuts know how insane that is. Most music depreciates just a bit each time (unless it just wasn’t that good to begin with). Not Fade Away is Alice In Wonderland with new nooks and crannies each time. A world that taps into your imagination because of andrew’s production and Jesse’s writing. Pigeon Man was special because Mopes produced it and believes in smashing you in your mouth with big unignorably dope beats. On Not Fade Away we slow down, which Jesse does exceedingly well, both andrew and Jesse agreeing that this music should conjure a cloud of exhaled weed smoke in the minds eye. My Jesse The Tree theory: Pigeon Man was proof positive Jesse can sh-t talk, smash verses and swag surf with any hard nosed rapper. In the world of sensitive and poignant avant-garde hip hop Jesse’s personal poetry fits like a glove. The Tree is a link between these worlds and not alone. If you want another example just listen to AJ Suede on Canary Yellow Submarine. The emcees that somehow have keys to open all the doors are special. Not Fade Away is special.

Penalty of Leadership by Boldy James and Nicholas Craven

I spent some time asking people about the relationship between Craven and Boldy. Some people paint Craven as a loop hunter and nothing more, a style with craft unrefined. My question: If that were to be the case how is Craven getting the very best out of Boldy? Penalty of Leadership is a follow up to Fair Exchange No Robbery and the stakes are higher. Broken vertebrae in his neck after a car accident has the Detroit spitter focused and emotional. Doesn’t surprise me that he would be as brutally efficient as he ever was. Boldy’s flow has always felt like brain clutter shaped into high art and he’s gotta get that clutter out! My theory on the Craven question: listen to Evil Genius, the slow synths. Craven doesn’t just dig for loops he stretches notes, and without heavy drum it lets the emotion of the sonics take control of Boldy. It connects to a place other producers cant reach. Anyone who doubted the power of their relationship can’t after Penalty of Leadership.

Be Double Clip Tight by Vic Spencer & Original Super Legend

Vic has the smoothest scraggly flow in modern rap. Original Super Legend feeds him mean backdrops he can’t wait to exploit. Doc Da Mindbenda mixes it loud and clean just the way we love Vic sounding. Everything is present, outlandish jokes and pauses when you least expect them, a banging posse track featuring Rome Streetz. Original Super Legend really understands all the cool things you can do with guitar samples. From the riffs to the reverb to the fuzz, all of its here. These songs are chunky, listen to Honest Hopes or my new ringtone Good Seats At Notre Dame. When creating with Vic toss minimalism out the window. We only have so much time to create in this life and Vic needs you to push hard into maximalism. It’s that daring and determination that keeps the bar so high for his releases. If you ever hear a Vic Spencer album you don’t like don’t worry. You’ll love the next one.

Nothing Changed Except Everything by Shottie & Farma Beats

Farma Beats has been one of my favorites for years. Not someone I hear people talk about enough. The first track on Nothing Changed Except Everything fits instrumentally in The Godfather series while Shottie fearlessly walks us from childhood to death in under two minutes. Henny Face is one of my favorite songs of the year its just a classic banging hip hop beat and Shottie snapping. The balance of real human moments with Miami swagger (see Press 2) storytelling and easy humor make this one of January’s best. It’s ten songs where every moment fits, every beat slides into the next like they grew up together. A beautiful album about the immigrant experience that’s so cool and fun you won’t realize how much you learned about it. One of my classic Summer riding around albums is Choosey and Exiles Black Beans album and this one is starting to feel like the Miami cousin to it.