Circa 2007, I had just finished copping Busta Rhyme’s “Anarchy” album at FYE, and giving the album a first listen on my way home, track 12 comes on, and that’s it….my first introduction to the man, Roc Marciano, then a member of Busta’s Flip Mode Squad. Fast Forward 10 years, and on my Spotify saved albums list is Roc’s new offering “Rosebud’s Revenge”.
The Roc Marciano of 10 years ago, is not the lyrical beast Roc is today. I haven’t come across an emcee who can deliver such viscous bars with such a cool calm demeanor, like cutting your jugular and calmly letting you know it’s going to be ok… Ice man type shit. Roc’s monotone voice, and relaxed style makes him a very dominant emcee on the mic.
The Hempstead, Long Island emcee and producer mostly produced the album, aside the few tracks produced by Knxwledge, Don C(Arch Druids) and Animoss. Roc stays true to his production style of those really laid back beats that match his delivery. Although some tend to criticize his lack of drums in his production, I don’t mind it at all, I think it keeps from the beat actually overpowering his voice..I think it works, it works well.
Rosebud’s Revenge is one of those albums you got to listen a few times to actually pick up all the lyrical gems spread out throughout the album. Roc is a real intelligent and witty dude with the bars…he’s kind of like Royce but more subtle and more restraint on how he delivers them. There’s one line I truly love in “Rosebud’s Revenge ” Where he says “Beef with me or mine, Lead to Ecoli” (insert brunched up Cosby face here), that’s just one, just a smidge, of the many lines, I myself, would label Hip Hop Quotables.
Rosebud’s Revenge, in my opinion, is Roc’s best project to date, and by a close margin ,because the previous projects he has dropped in Marci Beaucoup and Reloaded are definitely gems in their own right. Rosebud’s Revenge thou, its like dark poetry on gritty boom bap. Vintage Bourbon in a tumbler rap.
Scy’s Take/ Album Breakdown
I’ve been a fan of Roc Marci for a minute. Tracks from Reloaded still remains in rotation on my playlist. When Rosebud’s Revenge dropped, I was hyped because Roc is one of the few emcees I can listen to a whole album of without getting tired of. He has a unique quality in his voice that is simultaneously smooth and grimy at the same time. I have high hopes for this project. Sit back and join me as we go through the track by track.
1. Move Dope
This opening track is ill. I’m really digging the beat on this. *In rotation
2. Rosebud’s Revenge
Title track. I wonder why he didn’t open with this but I can already see the direction this is going and I am loving it. Dopeness and I don’t even know how but this jazzy vibe is so laid back but goes hard at the same time. Good shit * In rotation
3. History
This is definitely driving music. Red dots head shots. So far one of my favorites, but we’re just three tracks in so let me not act prematurely here. Roc’s wordplay is on point at usual. *In rotation
4. Better Know
Digging the song but there is a something off with the beat. Level wise. It’s like his voice is competing with it rather than flowing against it. I love the beat and the sample but I wish his voice was more prominent.
5. No Smoke (feat. Knowledge the Pirate)
One of the few features on this project. Roc has such a unique voice that sometimes it is hard to match his flow with other emcees, especially given the subject matter of his songs, but they flow off one another nicely here. I fuck with this.
6. Gunsense
I’m digging the samples that are at the beginning of these tracks. This song came at the right moment. I like the laid-back vibe of the project but this was a little change of energy and it was placed just right. That being said, not one of my favorites but not a terrible track.
7. Killing Time
This is another banger. I definitely fuck with this. *In rotation
8. Burkina Faso
The opening rift of this beat is sic. Once again, his flow is impressive. We are halfway in and I am already seeing potential for this being one of my favorite projects this year. (Side note: I was hyped just from the title. Was not disappointed)
9. Marksmen (feat. Ka)
Remember how I said earlier that it’s hard to match energies between certain emcees? Never the case with Roc and Ka. Whenever these two get together it’s a problem. It’s like Pistolier II. Okay, THIS might be my favorite track on the album. There are some crazy metaphors in this. Skills. The skills. *In rotation
10. Herringbone
I fuck with this track. It reminds me of a certain situation in 1991, if you knew me back then you know what, and I’ll leave it that. *In rotation
11. Pimp Arrest
This song is dope for one reason. From the moment that the music starts you get a crazy imagery. This is back alley grimy music. I love it.
12. Pray 4 Me
This is one of those songs that I am unsure of from the intro but went into rotation just from the first few bars. This is why I am a fan of Roc Marciano. I was even more impressed to find out that he also produced this track as well. *In rotation
13 Here I Am
Dope. I like the switch of levels and I even let the singing slide. It just works.
14. Already
Already. We’re almost at the end and I didn’t even notice. This is another banger. *In rotation
15. Pig Knuckles
Dope closing track. And I do understand he wanted to end it on a chill vibe. I fuck with it.
Roc Marciano did not disappoint. He continues to impress me and grow as an artist. This is a dope project and might be up there, even tied with Reloaded as my favorite Roc Marciano album. Production was sick on this too, I just wish there was a few cuts, but you know how biased I am. The album had the right flow, play through, placement and vibe. I have several tracks in rotation. The best part is the album doesn’t sound dated and like some of his other music I feel it will stand the test of time and still be in rotation a few years from now. I just hope it doesn’t take him that long to drop the next. I know that people hate when I drop that endorsement so early but fuck it. This is definitely a contender for Album of The Year. I said it. Fight me.
Overall: A
