My Bass Rocks

Guilty Simpson: Ode to the Ghetto

Stones Throw Records has been near unstoppable for the past several years, and seems to only get better with time. The first thing that comes to mind are such modern hip-hip classics as Donuts, Madvillainy, The Unseen, and Champion Sound. While their lineup may be smaller than most, the amount of concentrated talent is unmatchable. Peanut Butter Wolf oversees this whole operation, while Madlib tends to provide the overall sound. This, combined with a solid foundation of MC’s (Percee P, MED, Guilty Simpson) creates a recipe for success that should never be overlooked by music fans.

The latest entry from Stones Throw is the first album from Detroit MC Guilty Simpson. Before the untimely death of J-Dilla, Guilty had worked on several projects with him (Chrome Children, The Shining) that eventually brought about a significant amount if attention from the hip-hop world. Simpson was given the stamp of approval from Dilla, which was enough for Stones Throw to take notice and sign him to the label.

Let me just go out and say it…Ode to the Ghetto is near perfect. While not every single track is incredible, there aren’t any that I would consider bad. But the ones that are great will get a ton of replay for years to come. From the start, Guilty slaps you in the face with his grimy flow, which is just the fresh breath of air hip-hop has needed in years. The Mr. Porter produced “Robbery” sets the tone for the album:

“My loot’s like Dave Chappelle/ funny as hell/ money is frail/ pockets on “E”/ and a broke-ass n*gga I’m not gonna be/ that’s why I keep a glock on me.”

He continues his attack with the first single “Getting Bitches:”

What surprises me the most about Guilty is his ability to make songs. Besides Slick Rick, there are few rappers in the game that can paint a picture like Simpson. While his flow may be too laid-back for some, his lyrical ability speaks for itself:

“Living like it’s no tomorrow/ happy I no longer have to owe and borrow/it’s bizarre though/ cat’s act funny/ when a brother get a minute piece of rap-money/if that little check I do’s upset/ you gonna be real sick when I do my set/”

And:

“I make your side bleed/ I get you hurt/ I move with more jerks than a five-speed/”

Overall, this album is surprisingly good. The lyrics are potent throughout, while the beats accompany his style to perfection. Madlib seems to really be on top of his game here, with some serious contributions from Mr. Porter, Black Milk, and J Dilla (“I Must Love You”). Of the aforementioned modern classics , Ode to the Ghetto deserves a spot right in the middle. Do yourself a favor and cop this record…You won’t regret it.

Overall: 9 (out of 10)

Vote for Guilty HERE.