Track Review ⊙ Daily Ops Home
Masta Killa :: "Brooklyn King"From Brooklyn King (Nature Sounds; 2006)
Ling ding ding ding ding. Ya’ll cats know how he do his thing. Made in Brooklyn isn’t the best hip hop album of the year — though there aren’t many contenders — but “Brooklyn King” is as refreshing in this barren, scorching summer as a big fucking Arnold Palmer (65/35 ratio on the iced tea/lemonade, obviously). Dev 1’s beat is a showstopper, two seconds of drums looped with dizzying persistence, a few cymbal crashes sprinkled through each measure and a four-note walking bassline to introduce each fresh loop. It’s a nod to the real King of Brooklyn — Primo, that is — all minimalist, all effortless, the beat just exists, unblemished and true. Masta Killa, for his part, retains the easygoing charisma that made No Said Date such a welcome surprise. He’s aping his mentor the Genius less than ever here, spitting game like Pretty Toney but letting his cadence slide and click; his breath patterns become the track’s melody, dipping, “Yeah it’s just another day in the hood.” He slurs the chorus, multitracked mumbles that, unlike most mumbles, radiate a cocksure cool. In the past few years, we’ve had Grandmasters, RZA’s ascent to soundtrack muse, the indefatigable Ghostface, and now this, a worthy follow-up from the Clan’s Johnny-come-lately underdog. Raekwon sits in the corner, waiting patiently to drop the ball.
Clayton Purdom :: 1 August 2006 |
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