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
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{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, I can’t believe I missed this one.. thanks Fred!
grey hairs one of the top ten albums of this year..go cop it
Fred’s churning these out
when’s more grey hairs coming out? been waiting forever for that to drop…
the stand out tracks sound sick! gona try an get this album in january.
This album was really good. I had never heard of him before this though…
mannnn
Reks has been around.. for a long long time
A very dope album. He was out and moved to Florida and fell back
album of the year, in my humble opinion
Album of the year imo opinion too… I also have a collection of tracks that didnt make the cut, and they are dope as well…
nice review, but this album is so good that the standout tracks I would’ve picked are different from those you chose.
This is a good album. 3 maybe 4 tracks too long, but that’s being picky.
Statik Selektah sure does love some Jay and Nas vocal samples.
I’m gonna cop this joint.
This is by far one of the best albums out of NYC in a minute.
Reks is straight outta Lawtown (Lawrence), MA homz. So you could say he’s from Boston.
great album.
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewImage&friendID=411043351&albumID=18731&imageID=18051035
HPmusic feat REKS “I WANT”