Our favorite guest-writer Romney Wordsworth is back with some thoughts on the great Pharoahe Monch and his new record.
The gap-toothed kid with the ill computer flow is finally back with a new album PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (iTunes here), his fourth in 15 years. He has shifted labels in an effort to maintain complete creative control and in an era where a mixtape follows an album that came out six months ago and an album follows that within the year, his brand of release makes him better suited to the old skool fans as he can’t cater to the ADHD digital kid flavor-of- the-week. Pharoahe may not be the greatest of all-time, but he is in the conversation. He once ghostwrote a track so transparent for Sean “Puffy Diddy” Combs and guided his delivery to the point it sounded like his own release. (That’s a feat since Combs is an abomination for music. I know he discovered B.I.G. and he still reminds us, but he has no business rapping and is not worth the money he makes masquerading in an industry promoting artistry while exploiting artists.)
As a personal favorite, I eagerly anticipated the release. I read about the concept he teased in his bars on Kid Tsunami’s title track, “The Chase,” and felt he was tackling an under-examined topic for hip-hop (life). Mental health affects us all in one way or another but the bravado or lack of information leads to self-medication and/or ignoring symptoms. The idea we have created communities where trauma is the norm is a staggering thought to indulge.
Monch delves in with his typical sci-fi interludes to paint a corporation aimed at addressing his own issues for a profit. The Recollection Facility is a Lacuna, Inc.-like company (see: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) intent on removing painful memories in order to falsify bliss. After the jarring introduction, “Time2” is another classic with a stuttering narrative showing an emcee blessed with the confidence to toy with intonations to create a mood. While the concept remains intact, the quality muddies. The only track to match “Time2” is “Bad M.F.” Each song contains an important message and compiles a rich tapestry while being listenable but not sonically impressive. He is creative and risk-taking with guest stars like Black Thought, Vernon Reid and Talib Kweli (none of whom result in the bangers I anticipated).
Better than anyone, I know never in my wildest dreams should I shit on the brother who resides in the borough of Queens. That said the album was nowhere near my expectations. As an overall addition to the established canon, Monch delivers. He makes a statement and when viewed as a piece of art, it is a success. I am not likely to play through the album and instead will compile my favorites and pillage the “The Recollection Facility” tracks, “Time2,” “Bad M.F.” and the SideFX faux pharmaceutical advertisement. I encourage everyone curious to cop it anyway if only to support an actual independent artist (Simon Says). “Time2” and “Bad M.F.” make it worth the cost as those tracks are incredible. I’m a bad motherfucker, man. (Shut your mouth.) Well, we’re talking about Pharoahe…
And, now, as my established modus operandi, I give you the Monch record I’ll be listening to. The dystopic thread weaves all albums together and creates an album unlike any other emcee could produce. I give you CODENAME: 13.
Go tell your favorite rapper, ‘eat a bag a baby dicks.’
CODENAME: 13 (Pharoahe Monch Mixtape)
- [Intro]
- The Recollection Facility
- Behind Closed Doors
- The Warning feat. Idris Elba
- WWIII
- Welcome To The Terrordome
- What It Is
- (The Sniper) When The Gun Draws
- Let’s Go feat. Mela Machinko
- My Life
- [Interlude]
- Simon Says
- SideFX
- Fuck You
- What Is The Law
- Right Here
- Clap (One Day)
- Livin’ It Up
- The Next Shit feat. Busta Rhymes
- The Future – P. Diddy
- Time2
- Agent Orange
- Bad MotherFucker
- The Recollection Facility Pt. 2
- Love feat. J. Dilla
- The Light
- The Recollection Facility Pt. 3
- Let My People Go
