A.T.I.

Joell Ortiz
The Brick (Bodega Chronicles)
Koch Records
7.1

"I am hip-hop"! This proclamation from hip-hop newcomer Joell Ortiz is of vital importance to a genre overrun with disinterested emcees looking for a quick buck. Yes, Ortiz does indeed hold what has been speculated to be a wealthy deal with Aftermath boss Dr. Dre, but the honesty and passion with which he lays his rhymes is a welcome change from what has so far been an under-whelming first half in the rap game. Leading up to his major-label debut comes the Koch-released street album The Brick, which gives the streets a preview of the highly talented, true-to-his-roots MC repping New York to the fullest.

His underground hit "Hip Hop" is the most notable single of the year, as Joell's love for the music clearly overrides any outside bullshit that comes with being a rapper, "I wake up hip-hop, go to sleep hip-hop, dream bout hip-hop." "The Bio" explores the background story of how Joell has gathered the sizable buzz he has today, and Ortiz also provides an ode to "Brooklyn" with the help of Cashmere, Maino, and Big Daddy Kane, just one of the several solid collabos on the album. Immortal Technique's fearless rhymes mix well with Ortiz' gruff rhymes over the piano driven "Modern Day Slavery," where Tech spits knowledge through a sped-up sample, "Our people are the product of genocide and slavery, everything in the ghetto is how it was made to be."

The production of The Brick isn't the main focus on Bodega Chronicles, but for the most part, Ortiz has little problem displaying a strong mic presence over throwback east-coast beats. Few bars are wasted here, as Joell and company vividly illustrate the connection between their real-life situations and the focus they have on making "real" hip-hop music. The Brick may lack glitz and commercial appeal, but this was meant to be a street record, and Joell has delivered a solid debut. Koch can't be the graveyard, they just dropped one of the top albums of the year.

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'Let's get it clear like eucalyptus, if you conflicted'

H.O.V.A.

Id rate it a bit higher. Ok review tho...coulda been a little better written, but still mostly accurate

vllusioN

ye man i slept on this cat buh id gives this cd a 8.5 or 9 its fuckin sick

1.2.3

i thought it was pretty good. i love the immortal technique and ras kass guest verses. also, 125 part 3 (i think, possibly part 2) was my fav.

3.5/5 for me.

Shyne

I was really really dissapointed with how weak I.T. was with his verse. Dude's new flow and voice are just horrible and his lyrics aint nearly as good anymore. Razzy did decent enough, his usualy mix of good bars with wack ones. Daddy Kane didnt really get a chance to shine with his non stop flow since his bars were kinda broken up but he still killed it. and Style's murdered his guest spot.

A.T.I.

^you whack b...

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'Let's get it clear like eucalyptus, if you conflicted'

.Drac.

this shits sickkk 9 is what ill give it