What’s up, fellas?
[Video][Website]
[5.86]
Iain Mew: “As rain falls on my executive trench…” – YES. Not only does Large Professor think up a production with stop-start strings and sighs that’s like one long epic tickle, but they have the words to create an even bigger impression. That particular dramatic entrance and the immeidate speeding up that follows is the highlight, but there’s not a wasted verse anywhere.
[8]
Anthony Easton: I really like the metaphor of statutory to caciatore but find the topless salsa making truly cryptic. But at least it doesn’t have the gay panic of the Big Boi one. it is also self aware enough to know that he is a misogynist–that must mean something.
[3]
Brad Shoup: This was one prosciutto reference away from having the most Bronsonian verse ever. Over a solemn two-note vocal ping, the assembled split their time between for-its-sake wordplay and turf designation. As the last rapper, Saigon’s verse starts with a great couplet but ends on “tell ’em why”… was there a slip-up in editing?
[6]
Jonathan Bogart: These four men are all very good at rapping. (Well, three of them are, and Action Bronson can write.) Large Professor is very good at producing. But I’m too deeply embedded in pop to fully embrace any song that doesn’t have a hook unless it’s, like Lil Wayne. And none of them are that good at rapping.
[6]
Patrick St. Michel: A weird mix of New York rappers and hot things from six years ago come together to deliver verses of varying quality over a serviceable beat by Large Professor trying to rekindle the glory days of New York rap. I’d rather listen to his beats with a different cast of characters, but, hey, let a man reminisce on the good times.
[6]
Alfred Soto: None of these good to very good rappers disgraces himself but the loop could do more to nudge them to higher heights.
[5]
Pete Baran: I know none of these chaps, and while the loop is atmospheric, it certainly shouldn’t be enough to hold attention for four minutes. So why did I end up liking this so much? The backing reminds me of early throwaway full RZA productions, and the pic’n’mix line-up of rappers had that all guesting on their own record feel of the Wu-Tang. Action Bronson’s verse is a star turn.
[7]