(FLIP WILSON II)

As far as sequel anticipation albums come, this was high on the list. After an incredible debut showing, I know they could only go up from there! So with that in mind, let’s find out if lightning can be caught in a bottle! Let’s go! This is the brand-new album collaborative effort between 6th Man artists—The Bad Seed & Shade Cobain with the likes of -Honey Dinero -Mook Sinatra -Cuzz Cuzzo And let me say this real quick. That intro track? PERFECTION. This is going to test the knowledge of the current generation. If anyone listening to that track, then you might just be too young to comprehend the power of this one! That Chronic intro flip? With HONEY DINERO AS SNOOP doing the narrative? Nah, that’s a wrap. This entire record (if it wasn’t noticed from the first effort) is a focus on beat flips of the most iconic production that made this culture what it is! As that intro track provided evidence of, and we get Seed doing his thing over established beats that have been worked on to be a different breed of the same classic tracks! In saying that, we need to give Shade his flowers. This isn’t a process that just anyone can do, let alone do tastefully! A whole circus of things could go wrong in the process of making this record. No one wants to be the guy that took fan favourite beats and ruined them? That’s a sonic death sentence right there, but thank god it’s in safe hands as we hear 16 absolutely killer interpretations of golden tracks turned into diamonds! Across this project, we hear a tight selection of songs that have the mark of Shade. But unlike Cain, he ain’t here to kill his brothers, just here to lift them up and push them to new heights! With cold, calculated, and controlled energy that forces your head to thud with every second of the track that passes! Your body will instinctively move on its own, and your face will be the meanest mean mug you’ve ever done in your life! It’s that tough! It’s not just the fact of having 16 dope tracks in a row, but this album is an expression of pure, organic homage. Shade is simultaneously giving his utmost respect to the old school while bringing back the nostalgic tunes, samples, and sounds that help us, the generation that grew up on it, some joy in the scene again and hopefully inspire young cats to do their research and study the golden era if they haven’t already! This album is the funkiest history lesson you’ll ever have. From the banging beats to the resurrection of timeless classics and, of course, the layering of Seed’s dope vocals, this one has no right being this hypnotising, but can’t you see? Shade and The Bad Seed are here to stay! Now to discuss The Bad Seed. A man whose contributions are actually fitting for this record because he is a long-standing champion of the golden era! He was rocking his craft during that time period, and so these flips would be that much more immersive and important to him, and he doesn’t waste a single second giving his best work on top of them! Across these 16 tracks, we hear the trademark East Coast, Bully Rap verses of one of the dopest to ever hit the mic. Seed has had decades of experience, and he’s only ageing like a fine wine as we hear him hungrier than ever, sharper than ever, and most importantly, as RELEVANT AS EVER! In a game with so many upcoming cats, he towers over them all and not only brings the heat but does so over instrumentals and influences he was a part of! Does it get more special than that? I doubt it. There will never be anything quite like hearing a Bad Seed verse. For me personally, it’s because I know him in and outside of music. He’s literally the same person to the nano spec. From his rants to his views on life to his experiences as an older MC to his development of 6th Man, nothing he says on the mic is anything different than he would say on live or on statues; he just makes it rhyme when he’s on tracks. His authenticity is second to none. Pair that with an absolute raw power, ‘don’t give a fuck’ attitude, and a tried and tested flow that has shown to stand the test of time, he’s out here turning these songs into more timeless music than the originals did! From his chemistry with his team, to the relationship he has with hip hop (dare I say a double-edged sword), to the presence he has in the game itself, and the respect he cultivates, he’s a rapper and a man like no other. In a lot of ways, like Jay-Z, he’s a man who doesn’t front the fact he’s getting older; he changes his lyrics to fit his matured or older style. He ain’t rapping about the same things he did when he was in his 20s, and that’s respectable. He knows who he is—the general of 6th Man— and with that, he’s giving some of his best work he’s ever done and outshining even the kings of the modern day! Just as was the first. This album is a love letter to the ones who paved the way. A strong sonic statement of tribute, fresh ideas, and strong lyricism. If that’s something you admire, then you’ll love this one! If not, then just walk along because maybe the culture ain’t for you!