Grant JonesI feel like there’s renewed energy in the underground Hip-Hop scene, following last year’s celebratory period of self-reflection. Not necessarily in the continued dominance of luxury rap, or the strength in depth of the alternative scene, but the traditionalists flying the flag for that more familiar feeling. Freak Tha Monsta is the type of New York rapper you envision when you’re of a certain age – a Yankees cap, Timberland boots and a backdrop filled with suitably dreary housing projects. His grey hair only confirms he’s probably of a certain age too, and the hard-hitting, slightly ominous production you’ll find on “The D.O.P.E. Book”, courtesy of Freak himself, drags you into that urban environment immediately.
“The D.O.P.E. Book” claims to be themed around a sniper’s book of Data On Previous Engagements, which contains information to support their assignment, but Freak’s beats and delivery have more in common with a sawn-off shotgun. Drums crash through doors, scratches slice into your ear like a blast of shrapnel, and the rhymes fly off in chaotic tangents while still serving their purpose. The only song that follows the theme of a sniper seems to be “Incredible Accuracy”, an Exorcist-like piano-driven backdrop which fits the raucous cries of Big L on the hook, even if “setting it off, letting it off” feels carefree, rather than carefully calculated.
Let’s be honest, this is no-nonsense rap. It’s not designed to be picked apart and analysed, it’s designed to get your head nodding. Freak Tha Monsta is nothing special on the mic, although his production is frequently satisfying, particularly when combined with a DJ. Tone Spliff, TMB, CSP and Akil all supply heat, but there’s not really a song that stands out to grab any listener that’s not already a lifelong rap fan. Lyrically, it’s as uninspiring as one might expect, although I have a lot of time for the Recognize Ali verse. This guy continues to impress, and when he states “they call me the murder machine because I be killin’ shit fast” it’s difficult to disagree.
In fifty years, we’ve seen many styles come and go, but New York’s output is always worth checking out when it plays to its strengths, and while Freak Tha Monsta’s name may sound out of the ordinary, his lyrics retain a serviceable, reliability to them, echoed by a rare humbleness to his rhymes. If you enjoy that chunky, crisp boom-bap you find from the Dookie Bros, Doppelgangaz or Edo G, you’ll find this mostly hits the mark, even if it doesn’t quite land that critical headshot.