After a successful 2011, which see the release of one of his biggest albums of his career (All 6's & 7's), rapper Tech9ne is back. Although not with new material exactly, but this time with a new Presents... album. A feature showcasing one of his newest acts, on his Strange Music Imprint, Stevie Stone, a rapper signed by Tech in July last year.The release tentavely titled 'Rollin Stone' hit stores this Monday (the 12th), and is a piece with a few big name features (Yelawolf, Hopsin, & of course TechN9ne) but otherwise for guest spots it's mainly from other artists signed to Strange Music. A lot of help from other people you could argue, and especially Tech, but actually a lot of the content including verses, and chorus's is handled by Stevie, with the exception of perhaps the dark, dirty south like number 'Oneness' featuring reggae artist Peetah Morgan. Overall the feel of the album is of a unique Hip Hop artist who carries his craft on his own very well with 6 of the 16 tracks having no features at all. Surprising for a new artist, with label head Tech9ne actually only appearing on one track, '808 Bendin', and otherwise, there are a few tracks which are just as much a showcase for Strange musics other artists (Kutt Calhoun, Krizz Kaliko, & Big Scoob) but mostly the album has the upcoming rapper written all over it. Right from the start, from the opening number, the grimy sounding 'Get Buck', to the end with the finishing piece 'The Road', a track about the rappers journey to fame, you can hear the presence of the vesatile artist all the way through. An artist kind of similar to Petey Pablo on tracks like 'Cash Out', especially for his signature singing, but otherwise you can hear a voice which sounds like other rappers including DMX, David Banner, and perhaps Tech N9ne himself. The beats are also quite well choosen, a selection of quite Southernish kind of dark instrumentals, namely 'Keep Your name Out my Mouth' & the Hopsin assisted 'Raw Talk' the album has a good variety of music that ultimately brings the best out of Stevie. So to be considered that this is his debut album there isn't really a lot wrong. For somebody relatively newish to the Hip Hop retail market you can expect, that in the future, Stevie Stone will continue to fly the flag for Tech's Strange Music Group in quite a major way. A solid release from a solid artist.
Conclussion.
I'm gonna give this album a 9/10 because i don't think anything can be a 10. You got me i'll always find something wrong. I haven't, but i could so i repeat I'm giving this album 9/10. I would describe this album as a kind of dirty south sounding piece, although otherwise i would say that If you like Tech N9ne, and other releases from Strange Music than this is a rapper worth checking out. If you like your Hip Hop to have a voice behind it, alike many dirty south & westcoast albums, than this album will be for you. I will admit though I wasn't instantly impressed, mainly by the name Stevie Stone, but after a second listen i will say that the sound is really starting to catch on, and if anybodys reading this review to see if I think the album is any good, than my answer is yes, and about buying this LP as a CD/ download or whatever - my answer is also yes, and In fact i'm even gonna post a link below.
To buy @ Amazon.co.uk (U.K)
or for Amazon.com (U.S)
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