From The Ground Beneath
label: skygod

producers: marley marl, gee que, finga prince, d stalker

guests: capone of cnn, royal flush, d lyrik, Saide Angel
year of release: 2002
 
Skygod's last release dropped some time ago, but now the label is back with a bang, namely the four track EP "From The Ground Beneath" by label honcho Lordroc aka Rocco. This New York cat gets right to the point with "Too Hot", where surprisingly high profile guest Capone of CNN and Royal Flush (do you remember his Blunt days?) rub shoulders with Rocco on this Marley Marl produced beat. And no kiddies, we are not kidding. We would never dare to get your moth watering with such an interesting line up, especially as the final result is quite a feast. The beat by Marley starts off incredible with scratches and stabs, to then get a little watered down with the keyboard orchestra. But whenever the stabs take over again, and you getting used to the layers, your neck will be in a hammering motion. Lyrically this is obviously trying to double the intensity and Lordroc spits his best staggering flow, needling down the competition, as opposed to decapitating it with one big swoosh.

tracklisting
1. Too Hot w/ Capone of CNN & Royal Flush
2. lordroc Spirit w/ d Lyrik
3. Make It Right (The Emptiness Inside) w/ Saide Angel
4. Whatever You Want (Jazzy!)
That's track one, and we can only hope that this EP continues well. And it does with the creative and somewhat obscure "lordroc Spirit". There's some native chanting on here, with however us not being able to pinpoint if this is some Native American, Southern America or African chanting, especially as the stomping groove makes it one of those Black College marches. The track is sped up and makes it an effort for 'Roc to hit the beat rhythmically. What then makes him sound offbeat and rather talking, despite his regular and very on beat flow. Now after all this newness, "Make It Right (The Emptiness Inside)" settles within more regular chapters and this Finga Prince beat enables Lordroc to do something for the more traditional minded. The lyrics on here get more reflective and Saide Angel sings the hook about the struggle to 'make it right'.
Lastly then there's "Whatever U Want (Jazzy!)" where Lordroc dedicates the song to his baby, while he speaks on his past as well on his trying to make up over this D Stalker beat. The flow is still avoiding all over styled flashiness, while the mix of this song discloses the 'beneath' origin of this record. Nevertheless though, or maybe even due to that, this record is hungry. And with the hunger came the dope music. Hence while we've been satisfied with the compilation that came out a few years back, this offering is making us thoroughly happy and it's sure to makes Lord's name known in the five boroughs and hopefully and deservedly beyond.
review: tadah
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