It’s the most common accusation leveled against Tri-State Rapper Dudes – ‘They’re so boring!’. Non-progressive hip-hop can seem that way to kids raised on Outkast and Freestyle Fellowship, because…well, there are a lot of bland, generic rapper’s hailing from the Rotten. What one listener considers ice-cold nonchalance is boring monotone to the next. Instead of me spending the time and effort to actually devise the list myself and then have to read a stream of comments complaining that I forgot to include Lloyd Banks, I thought I’d open the floor to nominations. If you include a reason why the Rapper Dude in question is so coma-inducing then you’re more likely to get them through into the short-list for voting.
A good new rap record? Sure, why not? Actually, scratch that. For the most part, this a great effin’ record. Action Bronson marks the return of the highly-technically character rapper in the era of caricature performers who rhyme as an afterthought. He also envisions himself as some sort of modern-day viking, verbally raping and pillaging his way across New York. Pity those unfortunate wretches in his path. Tommy Mas provides some quality non-progressive loops and drums for the big guy to unleash speech over, and rest-assured that the Outdoorsman star recruit is only just getting started. Dead the Ghostface comparisons, Action delivers a variety of techniques that are far beyond the capacity of someone who only picked-up the pen a mere three years ago. (more…)
