Grown Folk Rap: Hip-Hop Vets Drop New Albums

In a comment thread regarding the recent minor dustup between hip-hop veteran heavyweights KRS-One and LL Cool J, someone lamented the fact that he hadn’t even heard about KRS-One’s new album until the controversy.

While the slip-of-the-freestyle-rap-tongue (and subsequent respectful backpedal) by the legendary Boogie Down Productions MC did not seem like a calculated move to bring any attention to the new release, it does point out how much more attention gets paid to an iconic artist when embroiled in drama, as opposed to an iconic artist dropping his first new album in years.

So, to make sure that other OGs get their due, I took a break from Thanksgiving food prep to drop a quick reminder into the universe.

Here are a few recent releases by some of hip-hop’s elder statesmen.

KRS-One – Now Hear This

The Blastmaster returned with “Drugs Won,” a scathing analysis on the “failed war on drugs” to lead off his new album, Now Hear This. Never one for shying away from social issues, KRS tackles more than a few on the new project, promising to deliver “the unapologetic voice of the people,” along with the braggadocios, party-rocking songs he is known for dropping throughout the years. Kris Parker tells the Chicago Sun-Times, “the lyrics are addressing the salient issues of my particular audience, who want to be inspired by music that empowers them, makes them think.” If the short-lived “diss” against fellow icon LL Cool J was entertaining to you, or if you’re one of the ones lamenting the lack of classic rap beats and rhymes in today’s landscape, do your part and support Now Hear This with a purchase.

Redman – Mudface

The New Jersey rap madman returns with his signature sound and style with Mudface, a 13-track offering, his first full-length since his 2010 release, Reggie. Ushered in with the piano-and-drum-laden headnodder, “Dope Man,” the bouncy “N– Like Me,” and a blistering BET Cypher verse, Redman captured hip-hop’s attention with his witty punchlines and charismatic delivery. Redman stays pretty much in the lane he’s always been in, so some might love the throwback references and enjoyable nostalgic vibe. To others who grew up in Red’s era, it might feel a bit under-evolved, but either camp should find something hard-hitting to enjoy in this Muddy Waters 2 prelude nonetheless. Cop over on iTunes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z220yzA5AxY

Jadakiss – Top 5 Dead or Alive

For his first solo project since 2009, Jadakiss invoked the phrase he is often associated with. Kiss has been nothing but consistent over the decades, and though his new project dabbles in the musical styles of the day, the LOX veteran sticks to the gruff, gritty lyrics and raspy flow that keep Jadakiss on the top five list for many, young and old. Features include Sheek Louch, Styles P, Diddy, Young Buck, Swizz Beatz, Wiz Khalifa, Jeezy, Ne-Yo, Future and Nas. Cop Top 5 Dead or Alive on iTunes. [Play signature Jadakiss laugh/cackle/birdcall in your head here]

Method Man – The Meth Lab

19 tracks, but feature-laden, The Meth Lab gets mixed reviews from the major publications, which means nothing because the ultimate judge is you. Fans of Meth will enjoy the Wu-Tang member’s signature flow, and even if the features get in the way a bit, most are worthy of your eartime, even if you wish there was more Meth in the lab. Cop at Amazon. (Special shouts to area-indie-favorite J57 who produced one of the album’s standout tracks, “The Purple Tape,” which features Wu-brethren Raekwon and Inspectah Deck. Catch my in-depth interview with the Brown Bag AllStar on The Manny Faces Show.)

Public Enemy – Man Plans God Laughs

Chuck D and I were on the same page a little while back. While he was calling out hip-hop’s flagship radio station, calling for action against their perceived slights against hip-hop culture and irresponsible remarks about the iconic artist, I had already taken action regarding exactly those concerns, in the form of an official objection to the station’s insistence that they are, “Where Hip-Hop Lives.” That action is still pending, and Chuck D follows up his own comments with Man Plans God Laughs, attempting to continue Public Enemy’s classic hard-hitting commentary over slightly-chaotic soundscapes, shakily demonstrated by the slightly erratic “Lost In Space” but done better throughout the rest of the album, PE’s 13th. As to be expected, Chuck D touches on several social and political issues over several different musical styles, and his verbal uzi still weighs a ton. Fans of the group and substantive, issue-driven rap music should absolutely support this independent release.