Review: STATIK KXNG - @StatikSelekt & @CrookedIntriago; A Niles P. Joint

Statik Selektah announced in 2015 that Lucky 7 would be his last compilation-type album since he pretty much mastered the format.  When I caught up with him at a Sean Price memorial fundraiser in Brooklyn, he mentioned that he had an album with Long Beach rapper Crooked I (now known as KXNG Crooked) coming out.  I was perplexed at first because of the regional musical contrast.  But after hearing a couple of songs, I was interested enough to preorder the album on iTunes and call dibs on the review.  There was potential there, I just needed to hear the finished product.  When the smoke cleared, STATIK KXNG stood out as a bright release of the still-young year in Hip Hop

I Hear Voices leads off and has the most Statik-like beat on the album.  Crooked starts hot and throws down over a traditional boom-bap type beat.  Magic & Bird is more bouncy than anything I’ve heard instrumentally from Statik Selektah.  The percussion still sounds natural and Crooked matches the intensity with his cadence.  I just wished it was longer.  The tone of the album becomes much more West Coast with Lost a Fan.  The lyrics have depth, touching on gentrification and prioritizing substance over anything.  KXNG Crooked is more interested in saying real shit than retaining superficial friends.  

We get a conventional California beat on Everybody Know, which was the second single.  Authenticity is the topic and Statik greatly extends his range and creates an instrumental that sounds like it could've been doctored (haha, see what I did there) by a legend in the G-Funk era.  The Cali classic vibe continues on Dead or in Jail, which was the first song I heard off of the album.  It retains its freshness and is one of the most well rounded songs here.  Stop Playing is interesting as it combines a guitar that would be right at home on a smooth jazz station with Crooked’s lyrics that have a kick and a flow with a sense of urgency.  Juxtaposition is the real king on this one.  The duo takes us to church on the next track Good Gone Bad, opening with a prayer and culminating with an organ and sampled choir on the instrumental.  That combined with an uptempo flow from Crooked makes for one of my favorite songs on the project, along with one of the best.

Let’s Go sees Statik lay down some of the best drums I’ve ever heard from him, which pairs well his trademark use of horns.  KXNG Crooked attacks the beat in an impressive combination of toughness and finesse.  Termanology makes an appearance as the only guest emcee on the album and continues to impress with violent yet tactical bars.  He’s one to watch.  The pace slows down a little for the penultimate Bitch Got Me Fucked Up.  The instrumental is more minimalistic than anythings else that’s been heard thus far but I’ve preached the importance of change-of-pace songs and this is a prime example.  Everything comes full circle with the closing song Brand New Shit.  Once again Statik ventures into comfortable territory with a jazzy beat with an understated yet prominent trumpet and piano.  It tells a story of Crooked’s dealings with a woman that’s looking for more.  This song actually reminds me of Scratch Off from Statik’s last album in its timbre.

The biggest issue I have with the album is the length.  At 33 minutes, it’s just over the half-hour threshold from EP to LP.  It goes quick and I can’t help but wish that they added a third verse to some of the shorter songs.  Otherwise this was an unlikely musical match made in heaven.  East and West blended better than I could’ve hoped for, and my expectations were high after covering the first single.  Even though some of the themes repeat, there’s enough depth and experimentation to cover everything.  This album is also a good primer for new fans that aren't familiar with either artist and need a starter pack.  It simultaneously showcases KXNG Crooked’s talents as an emcee and lets Statik Selektah expand his repertoire as a beatmaker.  An unofficial companion piece to PRhyme, I’d love to see the other Slaughterhouse members do collaboration albums with producers before they form like Voltron for another group album.  Until then, take your ass to iTunes and coronate STATIK KXNG into your music library.

Rating: 4.50 out of 5.

#ICYMIMonday: @PRhyme_Official Deluxe Version (@REALDJPREMIER & @Royceda59); A Niles P. Joint

The whole point of In Case You Missed It Monday (which is now known as #ICYMIMonday) is to explore albums that I either didn’t get to hear or heard but didn’t get to write about when they initially came out.  With that being said, I’m glad we got PRhyme Deluxe as it gives me a chance to right one of my wrongs since I’ve been with WTM.  I mean really, Royce Da 5’9” and DJ Premier form a group (PRhyme) and release an album and I don’t cover it immediately?  Adrian Younge is involved too?  What the hell was I thinking?  I’m ashamed of myself for letting it slip.  Fortunately a deluxe version gives me a reason to not only revisit it but also check out some

of the new tracks the duo cooked up for the occasion.  Being that there are a plethora of guests, it’s only right that I comb through it track by track.

PRhyme - It’s triple inception as the song title matches both the album and the group.  Royce, using a flow that alternates between hushed and blaring, talks about his recovery from alcoholism (which comes up a few times on the album) and warns against losing focus on your craft due to chasing women.  Good way to start.

Dat Sound Good (feat. Ab-Soul & Mac Miller) - The instrumental gives me a Cali vibe which makes sense with Soulo’s presence.  I’ve never been a Mac Miller fan and still aren’t but he doesn’t ruin the song.

U Looz - This is one of my favorite songs on the album despite being merely a minute and a half long.  Royce comes with his usual hard hitting bars and Preem is in his glory cutting and scratching.  Wish this was longer.

You Should Know (feat. Dwele) - This is possibly the best on the album.  The guitar is simple yet oh so relaxing.  Co-collaborator Adrian Younge’s fingerprints are omnipresent on this one.  Dwele gives just enough on the chorus in the midst of cut and scratched samples.  

Courtesy - Mary wrote about this video not too long ago.  The song still holds up and the organ is delightfully murderous.  

Wishin’ (feat. Common) - The beat is amongst the most intriguing as it starts slow, speeds up, then slows down again.  Common proves that he’s still the king of the Chi with his guest verse.

To Me, To You feat. Jay Electronica - This instrumental sounds like a comic book villain’s lair.  While he’s sharp on the entire album, Royce may be at his best lyrically here.  Jay Electronica makes an appearance that apparently wasn’t engineered as well (it sounds hollow) but is still strong as far as bars go.

Underground Kings (feat. ScHoolboy Q & Killer Mike) - This is actually the second time Royce rapped over a beat that used the Run DMC sample.  This time it’s more uptempo and he has assistance from Q, who has never sounded better and Killer Mike who strengthens his resumé as Atlanta’s finest.  

Microphone Preem feat. Slaughterhouse - You knew that Slaughterhouse would show up at some point and they make for a great posse cut over some sharp ass drums.  On the original version that came last year, this was the final track and worked great in that capacity.  All tracks after this one were made for the deluxe version this year.

Golden Era feat. Joey Bada$$ - It almost seems too perfect/tongue-in-cheek that Primo, Adrian, Royce and Joey would make a song called golden era.  As fate would have it, they do an excellent job making a new track that has old school aesthetics in both words and music.

Wishin’ II feat. Black Thought - It’s explained on the intro that Black Thought was supposed to be on the original version but dropped out after The Roots’ manager Richard Nichols died.  He makes up for lost time and beats the shit out of the beat, continuing an undefeated streak of slaying guest appearances.  

Highs and Lows feat. MF DOOM & Phonte - I covered this song when it came out last month.  It’s still a banger and more importantly fits into the grand scheme of this deluxe version.

Mode II feat. Logic - Both of these dudes truly go beast mode in a track that spans seven minutes of pure lyricism.  Royce never lets his foot off of the gas and Logic finally impresses me as he uses his own flow and holds his own.  This is a great way to end an album.

For years, Royce seemed like he was on the cusp of success and DJ Premier showed a knack for bringing the best out of emcees that might get overlooked otherwise.  It’s fitting that they found each other as Royce delivers on every ounce of his vast potential on every single track.  Preem gets the chance to lace the finest rappers from New York, Philly, DC, Atlanta, Cali, Chicago, NOLA, Jersey, & North Carolina with his world famous production acumen.  Having Adrian Younge assist with the beats makes the cipher complete.  This deluxe version doesn't feel like a money grab, instead functioning as an addendum to an already great work.  The new bonus tracks fit right in with the year-old ones in a harmonious way.  Christmas came early for the culture.  If you haven’t done so already, treat yourself to PRhyme Deluxe, whether it’s your first time or you're coming back around.

Listen: Dead Or In Jail - STATIK KXNG (@StatikSelekt & @CrookedIntriago) feat. Jessica Quintero; A Niles P. Joint

Statik Selektah is having a hell of a year.  After producing on some of the best albums of the year and releasing your final producer compilation album that’s stupendous in it’s own right, how do you top it?  Well you could head westward and make a collaboration album with one of hip hop’s most criminally underrated emcees.  That’s what the Boston-based producer/DJ did, connecting with Long Beach’s resident lyrical assassin KXNG Crooked (formerly known as Crooked I.)  While it may seem like an odd pairing on the surface, in this case the artists’ talent trumps any possible questions.

Dead Or In Jail is the first single from the upcoming album STATIK KXNG.  While Statik Selektah is chiefly known as an East Coast boom bap impresario of sorts, he displays his ability to craft a smooth beat that’s as relaxing as a California sunset.  Crooked has always been one one of the most underrated spitters in spite of solo offerings and his work with Slaughterhouse.  He continues this onslaught, dropping quotables left and right.  Jessica Quintero sings on the inspirational and lowkey celebratory and joyful chorus and adds some sensual Spanish on the intro.  This track makes such a good first impression I’m mad the album doesn’t come out until February 12th via Showoff Records.  It has potential to be one of the better and more intriguing releases in 2016.

Check out Dead Or In Jail after the break and look for our review of STATIK KXNG in the near future.