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Record Playas - Soundtracks For Days
(Audio 8)
Audio cuts:
Company
Time
Como
Val
Cicero
Keystones
Stuck In Ya
Box
WRTE
90.5fm
It's ON for the Windy City. Latest reason
to move out there yourself spells the Record Playas. How about
"Soundtracks For Days"?
Are you a record playa? If not, teach from these
guys as yet another widely talented crew outta Chicago make marks on
Boom-Bap. Record Playas is the collective name for the producer team
consisting of deejays and beatsmiths Jesus, Mind and Noble. On a
mission to bring the hardest hitting hip-hop from the local scene,
Record Playas presented their debut album "The Midway
Sessions". And as the team now is dropping the new album, their
first on Audio 8 Recordings, they come with "Soundtracks For
Days" featuring appearances from The Knomadz, Rhyme Fest, Pugzlee Atomz,
Infinito, Seel, Nico B and many more!
 Conclusions
can't be made until quality time has been spent with this massive
compilation, containing nearly 80 minutes of music. But if you get to actually
take that time out, there's much to enjoy. And the title for this
piece, "Soundtracks For Days" couldn't be more descriptive.
Pugzlee Atomz sets the standards right away with the suggestive
explanation "Record Playa" with dusted beats & cuts from Noble.
Erebus paints a perfect picture on "Environmental Products",
Jesus is in charge for the versatility shown beat-wise on the superior
"Che Strikes Back". And speaking of a varity of sounds,
another dimension is presented by Ismael on "Empty Shelves" and
through Mind's production on "Generation Lost" that appeared
on Seel's most recent single. And when Manifest Destiny kills
everything on "Manifest The Solution", assisted by all the
Record Playas, it's hands down really! We find MAD talent on this album.
Hungry, thursty emcees are coming through, and the skills are
undeniable.
As a production team, Record Playas has come a
long way in their development. Crafty beats are served with plenty
energy and most of the production work on this compilation seems well
worked on. All in the spirit of the Boom-Bap, Jesus, Mind & Noble's
biggest advantage is, however, their ability to flip and bend beats.
Beat changes are many. So as we took note of the variety presented by
the guesting emcees vocally, it's so nice to be able to recognize the
same thing within the production! Doing it in the same thorough, rugged
way as the Molemen - it's hard not to see similar abilities in the
Record Playas. Beats from the streets, for the streets and at their
very best, Record Playas makes your head bang just as intensive as it
use to do when RZA made the most dusted Wu gems.
All this is to be found through out
"Soundtracks For Days". While some tracks shine brighter than
others though, "My Midway Session" is a great example of how dope
it gets, with a severe gem cooked up by Jesus & Mind and Ndvisual
attacking the mic with genuine energetic rhymes! So favorites are to be
found everywhere here, due to the album's surprisingly high quality!
"Smoke Jack", with Nico B & Noble making the
interpretetion of the year (?), is a charming one, and Bamski The Bigot
shows how to rock it rough on "Proper Demonstration". The
Knomadz goes crazy on "Money 2 Burn". Phew, and there's more.
Much more! Record Playas takes some real weight, carrying home a near
flawless release with "Soundtracks For Days". While we see
many compilations like these, it feels so comforting to experience an
album with local artists on which the beats are up to the same, high
standards as the rhymes. And vice versa. Quality!
/ - - Abnorm
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