Reks: Grey Hairs

Getting grey hairs is a fact of life. If you stick around long enough, you’re bound to get them. Reks hasn’t been around long enough to start shopping for Just for Men, but the Massachusetts MC’s latest album, Grey Hairs, does sound like it came from another decade, circa 1994. With producers that owned the 90s, (DJ Premier, Large Professor) and another that’s done quite well for himself this decade (Statik Selektah), Reks gives us one of the best albums to bless our ears this year.

Reks‘ beat selection takes it back to the boom-bap and scratch choruses that made you feel like you’re in New York on a cold night; he also brings that rugged rap style that fits so well over these beats. The DJ Premier-produced “Say Goodnight” is a warning shot to the nonsense that he perceives is dominating and destroying hip-hop, including “80% of the South.” “All in One (5 Mics)” is one of the most imaginative tracks heard in a long time, as Reks gives us a preview of hip-hop heaven by rapping verses while accurately imitating 2pac, Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, and Big L.

While the first half of this album comes out firing, the second half mellows out due to Statik Selektah‘s jazz-and-soul-inspired beats. Reks is just as comfortable on these soulful beats as he is on the boom-bap. The comfort level extends on “Cry Baby,” a history of Reks‘ childhood that channels two of 2pac’s classics: “Brenda’s Got a Baby” and “Dear Mama.”

Grey Hairs is 20 songs deep, clocking in at an hour and 15 minutes. Surprisingly enough, there is relatively no filler, outside of maybe “Telescopes.” It’s hard to find a 15-song album without filler, much less a 20-song effort, so that’s quite a feat and a testament to the quality and replayability of this album. No joke, I’ll be bumping tracks from this album when I get grey hairs.

86/100

Standout tracks:

All In One

Cry Baby

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Say Goodnight

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