Artist: Unknown Prophets
Album: World Premier 2
Source: Itunes
Tracklisting:
1. Take It Back
2. Nowhere
3. Higher Ground
4. Louder
5. Everyday
6. Ready For Whatever (ft. Fatima Lily)
7. What You Make It
8. Food For Thought
9. Don’t Do It the Same
10. Patriots
11. Both Fists Up
12. New Day
Note:
I am finally getting around to writing about this fresh album from the Minneapolis duo, Unknown Prophets. I just recently started listening to their material. Big Jess’ solo work was instrumental in leading me through their back catalog. I am impressed with what they have done in the past, but I think World Premier 2 is their best work to date.
On the first track, Take It Back, the production initially is reminiscent of a Baroque era composer. But quickly the boom bap hits you on top of the classical sample. The emcees MaD SoN and Big Jess succeed in bringing hip hop back to a level of excellence. The two have worked together musically for quite sometime and that is illustrated on this track. They stay focused on the track’s aim of elevating the music. In MaD SoN’s verse he suggests that he is a cross between “Talib Kweli and Buddy Holly”. Now that’s a throwback…
I don’t know if you will hear a better three tracks in a row on an album than, Ready For Whatever, What You Make It, and Food For Thought. These three cuts have that introspective flavor, and really enjoyable production. I almost sprained my neck from excessive head nodding during this stretch of the album.
Ready For Whatever is a song that I thought really was made for a guy like myself. I have loved hip hop all my life, and now that I am in my 30s, my lifestyle has changed and so have my priorities but my love for hip hop music still remains. And so it is with Big Jess and MaD SoN. They are going through it much the same way but they speak it a little more eloquently than I could. Check a few snippets from Big Jess’ verse:
…I’m taking care of business, while y’all are passing blunts / I’m bout to take you to school, I hope you packed a lunch / Money is cool, but nothing else matters as much / As being able to survive when life tries challenging us…
…I’m out here trying to play ball with these youngstas / And I’m reminded quickly, I’m not as good as I once was / Not near as quick as I used to be / It’s such a shame / So I’m out here working on my old man fade away game..
Damn. These snippets really hit home. Some of my younger peers just wouldn’t understand…yet.
What You Make in turn is an inspirational song that aims to assist the listener to persever and achieve their dreams. The production here is hands down the best on the album. I am a sucker for a good sample, and that’s just what I get. It sounds like an altered operatic snippet and gives way to a really dope piano riff. “You only got one life, don’t sit back and waste it / You got a dream, now it’s time to go out and chase it.” The emcees’ verses both relate to this theme. We all get beaten back from time to time but we must all move forward or be doomed to fail.
If you are looking for a jam just to rock out to, then Food For Thought is your opportunity. This is just two dope lyricists rocking over a hype classical beat. This is a talent showcase, showing you that they can flip rhymes and give you what the game has been missing…a little integrity.
This album incorporates all the things to love about an album. It is filled with twelve actual songs. It’s not just filled disconnected bars, lyrics, and wasteful beats. This fact alone is enough to warrant mentioning WP2. But then you get something far greater – you get a multiple messages and meaning in the tracks. The Unknown Prophets offer encouragement, poignant stories, and advice, all with expert skill. So I in turn will offer you this advice…buy this album. You’ll get very penny back in listening pleasure.
Hip Hop Dependency 