In The Deck
Statik Selektah + Termanology – “1982″ – @@@@1/2
One thing you can say about Massachusetts: they kept it real. Many of their tri-state neighbors felt the need to modernize (read: water down) their sound to appeal to other markets or a “wider audience”, as we say. But pretty much everyone in Murder Mass has maintained the classic east coast hip-hop aesthetic that was defined in the 80′s and 90′s. Two of the region’s best and brightest have been putting it down for years, honing their craft and improving with each consecutive solo release. Like two hurricanes coming from opposite directions, Statik Selektah and Termanology meet at perhaps the highest point yet in their careers, and collide with earth shattering results.
1982 is a hip-hop album made with that classic hip-hop sound that both artist’s grew up on. Statik crafts beats built upon creative (and unfamiliar) samples from various rare grooves – be it funk, soul, or jazz. Meanwhile, Termanology writes mind blowing verses that demand replays, many times not bothering with hooks or the typical formulaic song structure. The first track, “The World Renown”, is testament to that, as Statik’s beat is so buttery, and Term’s flow so spot on that you never realize there’s no hook holding it together. The same can be said for the stellar Showbiz-esque “Born in 82″ or the hypnotic “Still Waiting”, both which happen later in the album.
Term is an absolute joy to listen to, especially coupled with the wall-to-wall production from Statik Selektah. At times, Term paints vivid gangster tales on tracks like “People Are Running” or “Things I Dream” over Stat’s nefarious production, while tracks like “The Street Life” and “Thugathon 2010″ (feat. M.O.P.) present a perspective of hood life more akin to The Infamous Mobb Deep than Ruff Ryders Vol. One. Moving out of darker territory, Term gets topical on songs “The Radio” and “You Should Go Home” feat. Bun B and Masspike Miles, both with excellent results.
The addition of several high profile guest appearances help flesh the album out, bringing the best out many of hip-hop’s old favorites. M.O.P.’s two appearances on the record outshine anything on their last LP, while a welcome Inspectah Deck sounds reinvigorated on the bittersweet “The Hood Is On Fire”. “Life Is What You Make It” invites Saigon back into the fold, making the prospect of a Statik helmed Greatest Story Never Told LP even sweeter. And when was the last time your jaw dropped for Xzibit? Between his verse and Statik’s beat, prepare to pick it up off the floor after hearing “Goin’ Back”.
Hip-Hop albums like this one are few and far in between in this day and age. Statik Selektah and Termanology come from a school that had classic hip-hop albums dropping just about every week, and here they’ve managed to craft an LP in that fashion. Their comparisons to acts like Gang Starr, Kool G. Rap and Polo, and Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth are completely justified; one listen and you’ll be taking it back to 1982.
In conjunction with The Well Versed.
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pizz, right on with mass comments. i remember seeing term at the middle east with my buddy in high school and laughin at him for getting an authentic sox jerz with his name on it. jokes on us. lawrence all day.
been visiting the site since you guys were doing new joints section reviews like crazy – back when slum vill came out with a q tip signed album.
keep up the good work.
I am from Boston…was an original emcee from way back in the day. There have been many before Term..Kool Gsus, MC Fantasy, Melo Roc D, Master KevSki (from RSO), Uno the Prophet, EdoG…the list goes on. In otherwords, Boston has been doing it for years but no one ever knew..cuz in the Bean..rock rules.
However, Term and Statik (along with REKS for that matter) have been doing too! Term is probably the best new MC hands down!! Kid has maad flow. Statik…he’s no doubt the future.
This album is probably one of the most complete a to z album to come out in the past few years. (Y Society’s was the last one with yet another Boston Emcee…Insight)
Boston cats believe in keeping true to what its supposed to be…hard lyrics and dope beats.
Mass truly runs the underground…you can disagree but its true. Get this 1982 Album….too dope!
Check out JDepina on youtube. This Rhode Island kid with his crew is nice too!
um no. i hope you didn’t give this album high praise just cuz it’s Term and Statik. It’s unfortunate that this album, along with most of the rap albums to come out this year, is very disappointing. If you’re gonna name yourselves “1982″, then where’s the style/boombap from that era on this record? They got ONE head-nodding joint on the LP (ThugAThon) and that’s it. the music vids were cool, but it seemed like Statik was trying to get too sophisticated with the production, and Term followed him, so the album is kinda wack.
Don’t get me wrong, Term is a Top 5 Lyricist, but Statik is still pretty hit-or-miss when it comes to beat making. This dud of an album doesn’t change my positive opinion of the duo, and I look forward to hearing better music from them in the future.
Termanology is nice all over this without a doubt. Statik Selektah’s beats are really nothing special at all…seriously. He grinds hard, is well connected, but really the beats are consistently super whatever and never blow me away. Can I get a witness please?
Don’t forget Top Choice Clique!
Yep Top Choice…definately did that thing back in the day..
JAWN P. Force and DJ Gemini…
Bossaparts wrote…
“Statik Selektah’s beats are really nothing special at all…seriously. He grinds hard, is well connected, but really the beats are consistently super whatever and never blow me away. Can I get a witness please?”
Naw soon..no witness…Statik is the shit. His beats are some of the best. If not why would Premo co-sign this dude, and we all know Premo is one of the best and most consistent to do this ish!
Sorry, Pizzo, I love you and all, but there’s no way this album is 1 1/2 better than 7LES, if we’re talking Boston albums (I know, different reviewers, but still). It’s not that this is bad, but I actually found it kind of boring.
As a Boston-area head, I’d much rather have 1212 rep the area than 1982.
SO LETS TALK MASS THEN… YOU FUCKS GAVE 7LES A FUCKIN THREE… A MUGFUGGIN THREE AND YOU TALKIN BOUT MASS HOLD IT DOWN, ONE THING IS FA SURE YALL DONT HOLD DOWN THE REVIEWS OUT THIS MUG!!! THIS SHYT RIGHT HERE IS OK BUT IT AINT FUGGIN WIT THAT 1212 7LES YALL CANT RATE MY DYCK MANE!!!!
Celph Titled & Buckwild is better than Term and Statik.
@ Rich Wouldn’t ’82 be more electro as opposed to boom bap?
Peace!