Continuing with his established Ghostbusters theme, South Bend, Indiana Producer and Team Fame Gvng member ECTO-84 delivers his first compilation, Ghxstrvppers: The Destructor EP. The 8-track EP features some of the underground’s brightest young spitters and rising talents. Ecto is developing a knack for uncovering some gems and utilizing an assortment of genres in his production.
Lord Juco and Haze connect on “Destructor” where Ecto brings what sounds like a prog rock sample that resonates with the vibrating organs and synth effects.
ECTO-84 broke it down for DRHH about putting together some of these tracks:
ECTO-84:”DESTRUCTOR was originally a solo track for Haze, but when Juco heard it, he had to be on it; he sent his verse in for it a week later.”
“The Firehouse” featuring Chuck N Lock, samples Polish Radio Orchestra’s “Why do you say goodbye” where the piano notes rise and subside like the flow of the tide. Chuck N Lock bring their brand of sharp and clever punchlines over this classic sample. On “Mathematics” Long-time PRR/GCM affiliate Killa Kali delivers his measured flow over a chopped loop sounding like a vintage Saturday morning cartoon intro. Long Island’s Bub Rock delivers a solid track with “Heavy Rain.” Bub glides over a bouncing bass-line and slightly bluesy guitar sample. Team Fame Gvng CEO K.Burns brings his wild energy on “Tobin’s Guide” which pairs well with the vibrant sample ECTO chooses.
ECTO: “Tobin’s Guide was a beat I made at my brother’s crib. Packed my whole studio up to see if I could get a feel for a new beat. At this point, I was still tryna find a beat for K. Burns. But when that sample kicked in, I instantly got to work on it. Sent it dat night to Burns and the rest is history! By far a stand out beat on there to me”
Lord Juco stops by again on ECTO’s debut project with “Lunar Eclipse,” which sports a tumbling flute loop to wrap up the EP.
ECTO-84: “Glad it turned out how it did… Timing is everything… The patience was the biggest part of making the tape for me. Not rushin it out. Makin sure everything flowed together.”
ECTO continues to elevate and push his skills, this time calling on some dope emcees to spit on his debut. Expect more heat from ECTO to follow soon as he is currently working on multiple projects.
Next up: A collab project with Chuck N Lock, Pieces of 8 drops April 1st.
The Rexxall Brothers (producers SampsonOnDaBeat and Rayne Drop) create an elegant sonic canvas for Lord Juco to paint his highly distinctive flow on. Juco’s tone always evokes an attitude teetering between candidly carefree yet also confessional. The Rexall Bros lay down a well-paced beat with clean drums, short-chopped piano and strings loops with a delicate flute coming in after a few bars. Whenever Juco and Rayne link, they seem to churn out some sharp joints. This is no exception. Juco skates in top form on this one, while the Rexxall bros bring a dynamic, head-nodding beat.
Jamil Honesty and Free Mind connect again on Higher Learning. This extremely dope track features the notable “Maybe Tomorrow” (Jackson 5) sample used by Ghostface on his poignant “All That I Got is You.” Free Mind adds some drums and additional effects to provide enough variation to separate from the Ghost joint. Jamil Honesty delivers 2 of his best verses of recent memory and has seemingly found yet another great collaborator in Free Mind. Jamil isn’t mentioned enough for his relentless delivery and lyrical talents, as he shines as bright as ever on this track.
DJ Grazzhoppa adds some dope cuts on the scratch hooks which feature legendary Ghostf and Rae rhymes as an additional homage to the original joint while maintaining the spirit of the whole sound.
Over a pulsating Blaq Knight beat with a synth harpsichord sounding like some Castlevania shit, all 3 emcees deliver their own brand of rhymes. SeKwence drops his raspy croaking flow and adds a second verse after Teller brings his high energy and quick delivery. Pro Zay comes in with his strained vocals to close out this uptempo joint. The youthful spitters solidly connect with Blaq Knight on this track.
The video, directed by John Luxe, shows Knowledge The Pirate clad in all-black, strutting through the dark NY scenes. Frequent collaborator Elemnt produces this joint, juxtaposing elegant piano loops with Knowledge’s rugged bars along with the imagery of The Pirate and his crew preparing for a midnight mission.
“Science Born” is the lead single and video off the upcoming Black Cesar album, Knowledge’s follow-up to his 2018 debut album Flintlock. The team looks ready to unload with yet another anticipated album, coming soon.
Q.U. emcee Truth is going to “Extreme Measures” in his new Video featuring revered spitters Royal Flush and Tragedy Khadafi with production and cuts by the legendary PF Cuttin.
Watch the official video for “Extreme Measures” here:
Raised in Queens during the golden age of NY hip-hop, Truth takes the spirit of authentic boom-bap to heart. This includes the producers and collaborators who contributed to on this album, including Large Professor,Da Beatminerz, Ill Bill, DJ JS-1, and up and coming producers JK1 The Supernova, Raheem Isom and emcee The Barbarian.
“Extreme Measures” is the first single from the forthcoming full-length The Fight For Survival which drops via LP/CD and digital formats March 22. Just like his 2016 debut album, From Ashes To Kingdom Come, The Fight For Survival is also executive produced by PF Cuttin.
Speaking on differences between the new album and the old album, Truth says:
“My first album had a lot of personal tracks dealing with death of my father and other life situations. I got that out of my system and when it came time to make this album, I just wanted to make hard shit track after track.”
This track brings together industry veteran 38 Spesh, City Yard Music’s Haze and rising underground star Jamal Gasol. Observe Since 98 lays down obscure, dusty samples full of cracks and pops creating a vintage vibe. The loops illicit a feel as though the listener just stepped into an old speakeasy, with the phonograph playing in the background. Each emcee complements one another, bringing their individual flows and distinctive voices to this joint.
Lo-life emcee Eff Yoo and Canadian beat maestro The Kurse deliver the first video off their recent project, Spicaso Dos. “Saturday Night SpecialDos” serves as the album opener as The Kurse lays down some futuristic synth notes and rumbling bass. With his semi-monotone flow Eff spits:
“My entire.. repertoire is fuckin fire,
Fire rings, I only walk-in when the choir sings.
Wrote this whole rhyme on an accidental whim,
in a leather-bound book made of pterodactyl wings.
Fresher than I ever been,
ya head’ll spin like the exorcist
my shit is sick, my pen is penicillin…”
The video shows a solo Eff at a couple late-night NY spots: in a dark cigar bar, copping some grub off the food truck and holding down the block.
Check the video here:
The album is available on all streaming platforms, or cop the physical here:
“The Lessons” is the first single off the forthcoming collab album from Rochester NY’s Jae Hu$$le and Chicago’s Onaje Jordan. Onaje brings his crisp production with some chopped vocal samples, and deep rumbling bass for Hu$$le to shine on. Take note as Jae Hu$$le drops his ‘lessons’ for a man in today’s world, with how to live, how to move and conduct one’s business and treat situations. Definitely a solid collab showing the potential for a dope project.
Rome Streetz has become one of the most consistent emcees on the independent scene. There’s always an edge to a Rome Streetz joint. Even in those ever-so-rare moments when he’s at his most vulnerable, he raps hard as fuck, always over beats that bang. His flexibility and range in the type of tracks, style of beats and ability to maintain a concept all speak to his immense talents as an elite emcee. On Head Crack, Rome unites with producer Futurewave. The Toronto-based beat mastermind has produced classic-sounding records, merging together highly distinctive samples and sounds to create amazing tracks. Future is able to construct beats that are both atmospheric and melodic, striking a balance apparent in all his work. Head Crack is a well-crafted project full of high-grade, head-nodding beats and supremely dope rhymes.
Deeply Rooted Hip Hop hit up both Rome Streetz and Futurewave to gain some insight on this project that showcases both of their strengths and talents.
DRHH: Since Streetz Keep Calling Me from a couple years ago, a lotta heads really took notice, and you’ve been on a tear ever since..
Rome: “Streetz Keep Calling Me was just me showcasing the fact I can rap over any type of beat. It wasn’t just one style. I wanted to cater to everyone on that joint. The projects after that I purposely aimed it at the target audience, the ones who strictly like that hardcore boom bap sound.”
DRHH: was the approach to Head Crack different from your previous collab project with Farma on Street Farmacy?
Rome: “Working with Futurewave was the same approach for me really as it was working with Farma, it’s just a different theme.. To me the difference is, with each project its more about taking risks to reach where u wanna get to..”
DRHH: How did the beat selection come about?
Rome: “Yea, Futurewave sent a bunch of beats and I just chose the joints that stood out. I know if I wanna rap on a beat from like the first 15 seconds or so. But also some of the songs I recorded he changed the beat after, so there are a few joints that have different versions. But really the aim with this project was just to make something that didn’t sound like the last tape.” ”
Futurewave: “When going into each project I try to bring a slightly different vibe to the table. I’ll send beats that I have in the stash and tailor-make a few to suit the artist’s vibe. Headcrack, Knee Deep and Acid Tab were all done with Rome in mind.”
Straight out the gate on, “Sniff it outta C-Note,” Futurewave brings the stretched out electric guitar riffs as Rome comes in, sharp as ever. On the title track “Head Crack,” Rome details his street moves and dominating the game. Futurewave brings in whiny echoing guitar notes that flex across several bars, adding some organ keys and punchy drums. With “Knee Deep,” Futurewave provides a minimal soundscape with an isolated jazz sax sample to give the track a vintage nighttime NY feel. Rome breaks down how far he is into this life of his.
One of the most mind-blowing tracks of this album and in recent memory is “NY Do or Die Slogan” The beat appeals like vintage gold with a perfect harmony of layered sounds. With joints like this, Futurewave really finds that delicate balance with the sample, drums, and well-placed effects.
Rome spits:
“Rocking fly gear, Fendi eyewear
Fuckin black dimes wit blonde hair, I shine like Times Square
Get lined here for ya possessions, Possess long weapons
Smif N Wessun’s in a Bucktown session
Duck down like a black moon record, they shoot reckless
Catch 2 where ya neck is and get left nekkid
Slow neck from Alexis in a gold Lexus
Flow been dope, Cutty’s overdose off the breakfast tester
You’ll never measure, forever our style
My footwear is crocodile, You fuck n***as bacalao.”
“Fortune Favors The Bold ” features chopped vocal samples and a bouncing bass line. Halfway through the track the beat flips to a jazzy trumpet with tinny hi-hats creating a more bleak soundscape.
Rome: “Future wanted to have some skits on the album and he sent me a beat for a skit, and I was like this is way too dope for a skit. Then when I heard the beat flip in the middle, it was over, shit had to be another track on the album.”
Check the brand-new video here, shot by Mercenary Productions:
On “We Ain’t The Same” The Wav.god lays a unique dusty strings sample, compressed drums and hi-hats, resonating bass and some fuzzy futuristic effects for Rome to put down the many ways in which he shines different than the next man.
Rome on the hook:
“I shine different dog, we ain’t the same
You n***as lose change,
Full of envy and ya move strange
Felt the vibes, yea I been peeped it
They want every piece of food off ya plate,
Watch who you eat wit.”
On “Acid Tabs” feat Daniel Son, the beat is appropriately psychedelic and hazy. Both Rome and Daniel Son deliver strong verses over yet another insane beat from Futurewave.
Futurewave: “My ear gravitates to a darker tone, I love psychedelic vibes but it’s not something I purposely go for. I sample what I feel will bring my vibe to life. It can come from Rock, Jazz, soundtracks, anywhere really. It’s a vibe thing for me.”
With “Foul Lifestyle” Rome’s grim street depictions are a stark contrast to the elegant and light harps and strings. “She’s Like Keesha From Belly” over some rolling drums and booming bass, Rome details the prerequisites his down bitch needs. Futurewave lays down a gem here with a dope guitar sample, faint flute loop and a subtle vocal sample on this, yet another standout beat. Rome shows a veteran’s cadence, with great timing and delivery in his flow with lines like:
“Whether it’s Chinese chicken wings at Mr. Chow’s,
penny-pinchin or stackin benjamins in a pile,
she down,
and I fuck wit her,
cuz she a real nigga
started from the bottom and I built wit her.”
Rome: “Future’s post-production work amazes me too. What he did on some of these joints I had already recorded make em sound totally different than what I first heard. He really elevated the sound from what we started with.”
From an early listen of the project, the final product showed changes in sequencing, changes to the names of tracks, some variations to the beats of some tracks and even more polishing through impeccable mixing and mastering. Futurewave mixes his production so cleanly, yet still allows the raw purity of the samples to shine while finding a way to perfectly pair the drums to accompany each arrangement. Rome capitalizes on the quality of the beats to deliver another cohesive body of work that shows his mic mastery.
Head Crack is an exceptional project, pairing one of the best emcees with one of the best beatmakers in the game. Even if you don’t gamble, Head Crack is a sure thing bet, so put your money on Rome Streetz and Futurewave in 2019.
Deeply Rooted HipHop 