(Photo By Sean Smart)
Haven’t heard from the homie Mad Static since his biting honest Q&A that he granted the site exactly a year ago today. If readers missed it or they just want to visit it again, they can check it out here. Since that time Static has dropped his long awaited Basquiat project. The album came together over the course of six months. It stems from a rough period in the emcee’s life where he was struggling to figure out what exactly his place was in the Hip-Hop scene. He teamed up with fellow Higher Education Records member Filippo Styles and channeled all of his adverse emotions, thoughts, etc; into music. The result is a ten track collective that he describes as: ” … unorthodox, original, and absolutely fucked up in more ways than one. All of the twisted thoughts and pent-up angst that I had bottled in, is all let out here.” And of course there is a little inspiration from multifaceted artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. So what was the end result of all of these elements coming together? Find out after the break.
“88/94”
The production here is intriguing. The hearty bass, eccentric musical ingredients, spirited rhythm, and down to earth vibe make for a winning combination. The hook is good. The delivery is animated and the lyrics are easy to remember. The verses are first-rate. Static continues to bring the high energy element via his flow with fierce wordplay and pointed rhymes. He conveys the outspoken side of his personality in a magnetic fashion. Peep it as he spits: “They call ’88 the birth of that real old school. F–k how any new n—a feel. So much trouble on the mindset. Channel zero got the youth blinded. Nobody seem to mind it. Filippo on the beats and I’m the rapper. N—as just don’t understand the concept that I’m after. Old growing young. Philosophy from the teacher. Fiends of the microphone. We don’t follow leaders.” Those are some top-notch opening bars right there. This song ends with excerpts from Basquiat speaking on his career. All in all, it’s a hit selection.
“Sleeping Beauty”
The production here is solid. The peculiar structure, featherweight secondary components, unhurried tempo, and lenient vibe fit seamlessly together. The hook is only used once throughout the track. It’s of an appealing nature. The delivery has a subtle tone to it and the lyrics are precise. The verses are gratifying. Static doles out his trademark flow, fair wordplay, and elaborate rhymes. He let’s the listener in on a lady that he admires who happens to be bad for him. A snippet from his situation is as follows: “My heart’s got a soft spot for yo kind. Meanwhile my friends let me know homie you blind. The flick of ya hair. The bend of ya waist. I crave you. Vanity slave. Dollars I save to save you. Self-esteem crippling. Your manipulation paying dividends. Can see through you. Persona fugazy. We the type to pimp you. But whose playing Derrick Avery?” One has to respect the honesty and depth in those bars right there. Overall, this is a legitimate offering.
“Twenty-Seven” F/ Fett
The production here is choice. The durable base, groovy soulful constituents, winsome gait, and laid-back vibe result in a complimentary blend. The hook is nice. The delivery and vocals are fittingly paired and the lyrics are meaningful. The verses are adequate. Static presents a casual flow, sound wordplay, and provocative rhymes. This serves as a striking example of the emcee venting his frustrations with the city as well as the music scene. A handful of lines to be aware of are: “I broke my neck for you n—as. Still you ain’t entertained. And in return my heart for making music’s died down. Even my best friend threatened to throw the mic down. Nowhere close to where I dreamt of being. Steady living tied down. Mom and sister comfortable. But yet I’m stuck in the hood. And death everyday stares at me. Figuratively, literally, this s–t can f–k with you.” Those words paint a picture with a lot of turmoil in it. As a whole, this is an exemplary final number.
**My Two Cents: So Basquiat was definitely worth the wait. The production was diverse and ear catching. The content was official. Static stayed true to form as far as his no holds bar nature is concerned and he incorporated more of a personal aspect to his music this time around too. That was pretty neat to experience. It’s another unorthodox yet educational piece that people certainly should not sleep on. In the mean time, Mad Static is already hard at work on his next venture WAXSTOLGIA. He promises it will be a change for the better as it pertains to his art on the mic. Sounds like it’s going to dope. -MinM
