Web is an emcee and I.D.e.A is a team of producers comprising of Syrenn, Tecknowledgy, and Fyness. Together they are God’s Favorites. The producers handle the beats individually throughout the project with Syrenn taking a bulk of the load. Together, their credits already comprise of Joe Budden, Donny Goines, and Young Scolla, and on this LP, they evidently have collective heat able to make even the most cynic hip hop head get to rockin’. Web has also done his fair share of work. Rhyming since he was nine, he already has four albums lined up and in the vault. Since 1982: Inferno is the first of three conceptual albums based on Dante’s The Divine Comedy (seriously, pick this up and read all of it. It’s one of the world’s finest pieces of work). Naturally, his journeys in the booth have led him to opening for some of hip hop’s elite such as The Roots, Raekwon, Talib Kweli, Common, and Mobb Deep. Now that you know the back story, I can tell you that God’s Favorites may be one of the easiest listens and most reassuring albums of 2009 simply based off of the ocean calming production and rugged, rusty, and chagrined tone of the emcee. For the most part, God’s Favorites is a win for hip hop and also, a win for the up and comers of the game.
Comprising of just over thirty minutes of music, Web and I.D.e.A do not leave much room for error. Of course, high risk, high reward. Starting things off with a boom with what the group considers “warm-up stretches,” the “Intro” deems itself to be a worthy album starter and a welcome introduction to the under-the-radar quadruplet. The horns, the fast pace and precise kicks certainly raise the bar high for the project. Over the next 9 songs, the group delivers in just about every way. “The Bad Guy,” “Think About It,” and “Seize the Day” all tell a story of their own both in the beats and the rhymes. “The Bad Guy” displays remarkable harmonic horns, a beat clearly appropriate for any mid-70’s espionage film, while Web weaves in and out of traffic, finding a clear lane to drop clear-cut and raw lyrics. “Think About It” is a little more on the serious end, as Web is introspective regarding various you-may-regret-it topics. Once again, the production is complementary and eerily fitting. “Seize the Day” is more-or-less the standout track as the beat interpolates an almost Enya aesthetic alongside an uplifting and thought-provoking barrage of elements. The beat is layered, like a cake with so many ingredients in it that make it good; for all we know, the secret was vanilla…or something like that. Web distributes some education on capturing opportunity, and while it isn’t a “reach for the stars” type of preachy message, it is a vivid depiction of release and reaching a goal. The hook says it all: “when the pressure gets heavy and I need to escape/I head to the palm trees and feel the breeze on my face/ pack a bag catch a flight overseas and we play/pardon me I’m just seizing the day/ when the pressure gets heavy and I need to escape/I head to the palm trees and feel the breeze on my face/didn’t love me like they should, I got no reason to stay/pardon me I’m just seizing the day.”
If “Seize the Day” isn’t the stand out, then “Everything” is sure to tickle your fancy. The production is so enthusiastic and so engaging that it’s so hard to hate any moment of the track (and the album for that matter), but then throw Web on there, who kicks smooth-sailing easy going rhymes, and the song (and the album for that matter) is so likable. “Love at Light Speed” hits chords that listeners may not have exercised in a while, both musically and emotionally. The bass on the production alone speaks volumes, but it’s really the subtle touches, both on Web’s lyrical end and I.D.e.A’s beat, that really comprise the genius of the track.
There isn’t much bad to say about God’s Favorites. If Web wasn’t so rugged, I don’t think the delicacy and earthiness of I.D.e.A’s production would stand out so much. If I.D.e.A’s production wasn’t so flat out organic, I don’t think Web’s tough-nailed voice and lyricism would be as on display. It’s a great combination and it works to the advantage of the group. It has the feeling and emotion of Boy Meets World [read review], and the story-told production value of [another well received album] Man on the Moon [read review]. At the end of the day, it’s a great listen and a dope album. It really is on the listener’s onus to indulge in the thought of it being a “great-listen,” and even if it passes that test of time.
84/100
Love at the Speed of Light
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Everything
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Falling Down
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i became a fan of WEB when i heard “lonely street”(props to IVAN at HHIR..thats where i first heard the song at)..the lyrics on that track are dope..then downloaded his mixtape which came out earleir this year..the tape was nice..def cant wait to check this new project out..PROPS DEEZ
This is actually the first I’m hearing of these cats. I bought this album last night based off Deez’s review and this shit is NICE! I’m lovin the album!
Thank you for the feedback Kev, we greatly appreciate the love. I personally have been following your blog for a minute now, so its nice to see you like what we have been up to!!!
-Teck
@ skeme- thanks homie.. that’s actually one of my favorite songs that i’ve made thus far.. i’m actually gonna re-do it with new production and get it mixed and mastered properly so it can come out and sound right.. thanks for the props my man!
@ kevin- thanks for that homie! i saw the purchase last night.. and you bought it from bandcamp which is even better since we pocket all the money that way.. thanks for supporting and having us featured here.. i come here regularly to check out the music and write-ups etc., so it’s cool to be featured..