Lost To Time

This is one of the most sombre releases I’ve yet to cover. Unfortunately this album features our now lost MC -Doe Boy Philly. I have to live with the regret that I never had the chance to get in contact with this man and build another friendship in this culture. So it’s the least I can do now to write this review and cover his last studio moments! So R.I.P to Doe Boy and this one is for you! This is the brand new album curated by the iconic -17th Cipher (AKA Harmoni Equality) with the rappers being -Beedie! And of course late MC -Doe Boy Philly. This album contains the following features -Rique Wit Da Wickz -Liym Capital As well as production credits from -JFK -Numbz Music -Symphony -Act Won -Czientist -Big Jerm And man this album to me contains so much language that must feel like bullets to the heart to the following artists considering the events post this album. For example lyrics on ‘For The Culture’ when Doe Boy says ‘Lately I’ve been feeling like I’m pissed off, feeling like in life I took a big loss/gotta bounce back like a big dog’ I didn’t even know the guy personally and that line hit me so I can’t imagine how everyone else hearing it must feel about it! I love how the very next track -9:43 we have who I assume is -Harmoni talking and she mentions the day and time (9:43) that he died and how this album is paying respect and tribute to the man! I absolutely love that! Also when we discuss the intro track -Legendary Pop Outs although I can’t confirm it this feels like a future nod to Doe Boy before he passed. The spirit, vibe, lyrics and energy of -Beedie on this track just feels like a final salute to the main man. There’s a hint of finality to this verse that I can’t put my finger on but it opens the album off beautifully. As far as the actual MC work goes, they both had phenomenal chemistry. One set up the verse the other finished it off with the same eccentricity as the first! It’s as if they shared the same mind and intentions for how the songs should go and sound! Of course it was a no-brainer to have those two collaborators on the track to accompany this tribute record. Who else but them would bring out the beast in -Doe Boy? They once again took control of the song amazingly and left their trademark impression on the beat! Even discussing the production feels bittersweet at this time. Because we were graced with some of the most lush and beautiful/colourful examples of modern-day hip hop only for it to be examined under the saddest of circumstances. 17 minutes of smooth, rich and elegant instrumentals that you can’t help but have posses your body and make you feel happy and relaxed inside! Whether that be due to tracks such as -Them Guys Is Here which has this thick Funk vibe to it! On this one we hear those opening strings accompanied by the snippets of violin that later evolves into this fully flowing track featuring those 808 style drum patterns, what sounds like a choir style vocal harmony in an extremely high pitch in the background! That also features some subtle chords in the distance to provide further texture! Think early 2000s Kanye vibes! There’s the track -Legendary Pop Outs which starts the track off in a Common-style influence. This one has a mixture of light Jazz horns, shimmering piano keys, thick and minimal drum work with some light bass that helps wrap all the music together! This is probably the more stripped-back instrumental on the album but I’ll be lying if I said it wasn’t gorgeous in its execution! Although it’s short I’d feel like shit if I didn’t mention ‘9:43’ this track only has a mixture of swaying and distorted chords and strings in an experimental pattern with some glistening keys. But it has to be mentioned because it is the time in the album when we are announced to the tragic death and it all becomes real. I can’t sit here and pretend I fucked with him from the start because honestly this is my first time reviewing one of his albums. But his influence on the culture, the relationships he built and the talent he brought to the game will be something that will live on forever! One more time for the man. R.I.P May he never be ‘Lost To Time’