The basic formula for a dope album is simple for me. I’d like the lyrics to tell me or show me something, the production needs to be original and keep my attention in check, and samples with cuts that will make me fawn like a prepubescent Beiber fan catching glimpse of a life-size cut out of the Beibs at a Walgreens. Execution is everything as even the worst of the worst can get their hands on this or similar formulas, but if they’re bad at making music, then you have crap. And that’s the kind of crap we tend to get sent to our inbox. People who mean well, but have a false sense of bravado because other similarly terrible artists have big-upped them along the way.
Enter Revelation, MC/Producer from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. From the first moment we were introduced through a mutual acquaintance, every e-mail correspondence I received, which ultimately led to me receiving this album a week early to test drive, was nothing short of professional. Which is quite the change-up from what we’re used to. But none of you care about that sort of stuff. Nor do I blame you. On to the boom-bappery.
A couple of months back I featured a track off of this album, Ghost in the Maschine, called “Super Villains.” That track laid the groundwork for the rest of the album for me. Each track is fast paced and in your face just like it. Revelation has a humble hunger that pours out not only in his raps, but also his production. Being responsible for the 16′s and music behind them is quite the task. Many have tried it but only a handful have been successful long-term. Rev certainly has the strength to be one of the handful. Ghost in the Maschine is ten-tracks, but no song is less than 3:44, other than the first track, the intro.Trying to fill four-minutes worth of air time over and over is a bold task but never do I as a listener feel like there was filler added just to make the album feel longer.
Enough of my paragraphs, try some on for size:
Cuts on this track are by DJ L-Gus. The album won’t be out until next week, 4/12/2012, but I felt the need to get the review out as soon as I could. I’ll be re-releasing it on that day too, to help further the buzz this album deserves. It’ll be available for free while download limits last (Bandcamp) and if hard copies are more your steez, hit up Revelation at hidden7prod@gmail.com. Also use that same e-mail address for beat inquires. Which I recommend. Because these beats are nice.
Keep it locked to TECB for more info on Revelation’s projects as well as other independent hip-hop and music from around the globe.
**UPDATE** The album is live and ready to get downloaded, head on over to http://revelationbeats.bandcamp.com/ and cop Ghost in the Maschine by Revelation.
Filed under: Album Talk/Review, For All The Broke Willies, Hip-Hop, Instrumental, Music Tagged: | Ghost in the Maschine, Pennsylvania Hip-Hop, Philadelphia Hip Hop, Revelation
