Royce da 5’9 and DJ Premier teaming up to form a rap duo was an unexpected but very dope surprise a few years back. In my book, they are some of the most criminally underrated ones to ever do it in hip-hop; particularly Royce, Premier gets a little more respect. So pairing the two together could only lead to some real heat and that’s exactly what we got. Back for a second round they don’t waste a single drop on any sort of flourishes or extravagances in their music. It’s just straight bars and classic production from Premier – there’s no larger concepts, there’s hardly any skits, and songs rarely go much longer than 3 and half minutes. So if you’re looking for some insane wordplay from one of the best lyricists out there and love Premier’s classic scratches and essential hip-hop beat making then you’re in for something special. If however, you’re looking for that more contemporary style of rap that’s full of breakdowns, beat switch ups, conceptual stories, and experimentation with other genres, then this is definitely not for you. It’s hard to be critical of artists who absolutely know what they’re best at and stick to that lane. They know their audience and know what they want, and PRhyme 2 delivers on that front, just don’t expect this to strike a chord with others outside of that core group.
“Now, first the Dipset split up, then Azealia Banks leave Twitter
And now you niggas hatin’ on Nickel
I just been the same standup nigga since the day I came in this game
And I just come in here to stay til’ I’m crippled”
Have you heard PRhyme 2? What’d you think about it? Are you glad they stayed away from the more contemporary sounds? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions to the album.
