stefanoneder Album

Co$$ x Numonics – Revelations

Artist: Co$$ x Numonics

Album: Revelations

Source: 2Dopeboyz

Tracklisting:

  1. Free
  2. Revelations
  3. They Keep Asking
  4. Gone (ft. Freddie Gibbs)
  5. Fake Kings
  6. Doubt Us
  7. We On (ft. Wrekonize)
  8. Confetti
  9. Let ‘Em Live
  10. Now Til Infinity (ft. Reks and Naledge)
  11. Tick Tock (ft. Sene)
  12. Paranoid
  13. Time Is Now
  14. It’s All Happening
  15. Genesis

Note:

Some releases catch you by surprise, Revelations, however was on my radar from jump. Co$$ has been getting better and better with every cut I hear him on. His flow and his drawl are very unique. His content is deeper than most would give him credit for. Numonics is also quickly becoming one of the more acclaimed producers in independent hip hop if you ask me. His previous work on his debut album, released earlier this year, Being Cool Doesn’t Pay The Bills gave him the opportunity to showcase his vast talent.

Co$$ and Numonics is not just a good combination,…it is a great combination. The album is dope. The track Free is a mere glimpse into what the duo can do. Co$$ goes to town over the heater. He breaks down how he is free from the constraints of a corrupt industry. He does not need to conform and can rock the mic his way. He truly is an original emcee in every sense of the phrase. I really can’t think of anyone that remotely sounds like Co$$.  His cadence and rhyme schemes constantly have you checking and rewinding.  It’s unorthodox and entrancing all at the same time.

Another choice cut from, Revelations, is the track Paranoid. Numonics hooks the listener up with a beat that fits the concept. It can best be described as neurotic. Co$$ then proceeds to give you multiple reasons to be afraid and paranoid of existing conditions.  He speaks on his unpreparedness for the future financially, his place in the streets, and having sex in this day and age.  The song straight up gave me a phobia just by listening to it!

Numonics production really leaves me tongue tied at times. It’s hard to pigeon hole the man. He is so diverse in his sound. He uses synth, horns, electric funk guitar, operatic sample, etc. You never know what the next track holds for you musically on this release.  He keeps you guessing on every piece of production which add to the pleasure of listening to, Revelations.

When people ask me who is the next to blow ala Freddie Gibbs, I point them in the direction of Co$$. He has the rare combination of street savvy, intelligent lyrics, and crafty flow. He has all the intangibles to blow up in today’s climate.

Revelations is a clear demonstration of talent both in terms of production and emceeing. It will leave you wanting more and I am sure there is much more on the horizon from both producer and emcee.  Just stay tuned.

*Bonus*

Paranoid (Numonics Alt Mix) -Download

Rock On – Download

stefanoneder Album

Jeff Chery – The Transition

Artist: Jeff Chery

Album: The Transition

Source: DJ Booth

Track Listing:

  1. Nu JC (prod by The RZA)
  2. Someday (prod. by Katapult)
  3. Candy Girl (prod. by Gamble)
  4. Pass The Dutchy (prod. by Chase N.Cashe)
  5. Drop The World (prod. Hit-Boy & Chase)
  6. Gotta Make It (ft. L.Jaye) (prod. by Kalaj Dame)
  7. Pedigree (prod. by Good Will)
  8. They Get Around (prod. Sam Sneed)
  9. Say You Will (prod by Kanye West)
  10. Come From (prod. by Scott Armstrong)
  11. One Night Stand (prod. by Hoodfamous)
  12. I Bet He’s Nice (ft. K. Sparks) (prod. by D. Roof)
  13. Steady Mobbin (prod. by Kane Beatz)
  14. The Pair (prod. P Haze)
  15. Doubt Me (ft. CurT@!n$) (prod. Kalaj Dame)
  16. Airplanes (prod. by Alex Da Kid)
  17. Who Is That (ft. Lil Chuckee) (prod. JHot)
  18. Silly

Note:

The Transition is a mixed bag for me.  There are some excellent tracks on here and then there are some that I feel fall short of his potential.  I have enjoyed Jeff Chery tracks before.  He is a mainstay for a lot of the popular blogs so the exposure is definitely there.    With that being said, I think I could half this album and listen to about fifty percent of the tracks and do without the rest.

This album suffers from an uncomfortable duality.  The production from the album is almost exclusively based on synthed out beats.  Whether they be original or instrumentals used previously from other artists.  I am simply not a fan of that sound.   There are times where it sounds good, ala Pedigree and They Get Around.   These tracks utilize good hooks and Jeff Chery comfortably flows on top of them.    These two songs are definitely highlights.  The rest of the production feels pretty bland.

On some of the other songs I feel like the content of the rhymes is a little cliche.  Alot of tracks regarding the ladies slow the progress of the album.  I don’t mind a couple of cuts but too many defines redundancy.   A little more diversity with eighteen tracks would have been better for the project.

Again,  I don’t want to totally disregard the project as it does have it’s merits.  I just can’t recommend it.

stefanoneder Album

Magestik Legend – FREE (2007)

Artist: Magestik Legend

Album: FREE

Tracklisting:

  1. FREE (Intro) (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  2. The Legend (prod. by Astronote)
  3. In N Out (prod. by Snowman Jack)
  4. Chosen Ones (prod. by Eric G)
  5. Street Corner (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  6. Out There (prod. by Jay Fab)
  7. Good and Bad (prod. by Zhao-Ski and Magestik Legend)
  8. Someone Better (ft. Neco Redd) (prod. by Eric. G)
  9. Take 5 (Flashback 99′) (prod. by Magestik Legend)
  10. What Would You Do? (ft. Patrice Williams) (prod. by Jay Fab)
  11. Black Out (ft. iLLite) (prod. by Decompoze)
  12. Baby Girl (ft. Kashia) (prod. by Nick Speed)
  13. Hold Ya Weight (MLMIX) (prod by Zhao-Ski)
  14. Thanks to…(Flashback 99′) (prod. by Nick Speed)
  15. FREE (Outro)

Note:

This album comes from a few years back.  2007 to be exact.  This was my first exposure to Magestik Legend.  I originally got this off of Hiphopsite.com back in the day, when they were trying to be a online distributor.  Now you can find it on his bandcamp page.  Again, I am not going to spend a lot of time reviewing something from back in 2007 but I do think it is relevant now that his new album is coming out. The Great Escape dropping, November 3oth.

If you are looking for the sureshot off of this release, look no further than the Decompoze backed joint, Blackout.  Decompoze production is incomparable and iLLite needs to get mentioned more when folks talk about Michigan hip hop.  Stream…Download…Enjoy!

stefanoneder Album

Jesse Abraham: Bars & NoBull

Artist: Jesse Abraham

Album: Bars & NoBull

Tracklist:

  1. Of Course (prod. by JA)
  2. Yoga (Video) (prod. by Spills)
  3. Just Gettin’ Going (prod. by KO Beatz)
  4. Who’s That (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  5. Little Bit Of Everything (prod. by KO Beatz)
  6. Got That Juice (ft. Albert Rhymestein) (prod.  by Willie Green)
  7. Digit (prod. by Panjabi MC)
  8. Don’t Taze Me (ft. Jeanette Berry) (prod. by Spills)
  9. Life Is A Free Throw (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  10. Word Of Mouth (ft. Premonition) (prod by Spills)
  11. Get To Know Me (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  12. Raucous Lawlessness (prod. by !llmind)
  13. Get Off Me (prod. by Trace Thomas)
  14. Ventura (prod. by JA)

 

Notes:

Jesse, who? Jesse Abraham? I still don’t know who we are talking about. But what I did find out after listening to, Bars & NoBull is that this emcee is different. And I mean different in a good way.

Fun. Zaney. Witty. Lyrical. Gifted. Those are all words I would use to describe Jesse Abraham after listening to this album. Fun hip hop finally finds it’s way to us via Mr. Abraham in 2010.  Admittedly I was a a bit unsure of this artist up to track three of this album, but he really started to grow on me.   His style is extremely unorthodox in terms of relating him to another style or trying to place him in the proverbial box.  He is somewhat similiar to Homeboy Sandman if for no other reason that they are unconventional in their rhyme patterns and cadence.

If you can appreciate an artist pushing the boundaries of hip hop, like clever and witty lines, and superb production, you will enjoy this release.  It took a minute for me to develop this appreciation but after all is said and done this will retain it’s replay value for years to come.

Shouts out to DJ Booth from whence this release came!

stefanoneder Album, Recommendations

Black El x Durkin – Color Commentary

Artist: Black El & Durkin

Album: Color Commentary

Producer: Durkin

Guests: Outasight, Jon Hope, Jelani

Best Tracks: Dead Poet Society, Go!,  Sunday Drive

Recommendation: Must Have

Thoughts: Color Commentary sneaks upon the listener.  I didn’t know much about the emcee or the producer but upon track three, I began to realize that a dope record was being achieved.

Consistency is the cornerstone to a great hip hop album and I have to say that each song on, Color Commentary more than holds it’s own weight individually.  Collectively, however, this album is something remarkable.  Durkin’s production talents on the album harken back to that boom bap flavor that so many of us enjoy but rarely hear.  Black El uses Durkin’s talents to the fullest extent. His high energy vocals and above average flow and wordplay kept me engage from track one to track ten.  There was no let down.  The two proved to be a perfect combination on Color Commentary.

This album is banger after banger.  It simply is a pleasure to listen to.  The sound is dope through out but the content certainly is varied.  Pride, for  instance opens up the listener to not just one of the Seven Deadly Sins, but also the confidence that Black El has developed over his years.  He speaks on the situations that have arisen in his life and his ability to step up to the plate and hold onto his pride.

Sunday Drive is the perfect cut to ride to.  The beat for this joint is my favorite on the album.  Black El speaks on the 9 to 5 grind and the ability to escape from time to time in your ride.   The track had me slowing down my speed, rolling the window down, and just chilling.  It’s a very therapeutic joint and a definite head nodder.

Arguably the hardest joint on the album is the posse cut, Dead Poet Society.  The track features Jelani and Jon Hope.  Each of these talented emcees drop solid verses and Durkin laces us with the darkest production on the album.  That production is a little different than you will find on other tracks.  While the rest of the album is that throwback boom bap, Dead Poet Society is more contemporary and is driven more by the keyboard than the hi-hats and snares.   This really makes this track stand out for the better.  Lyrically this track is one of the more superior joints.

I feel that this album is one of the more fun listens of 2010.  I could enjoy the album track for track and not have to worry about the fast forward button at all.  Give Color Commentary a chance and enjoy for yourself.  (Stream/Download below)