Native Science

This right here THIS! Is my type of sonic love letter. If you wanted to send me over the edge with any homage paid it is to this one! Making a record paying tribute to ‘Native Tongues’ arguably the most important collective in Hip Hop history! That’s an idea that is bound to succeed and with these two men already proving their legendary chemistry many times over this album has officially added to my list for ‘AOTY’ contender. Let’s talk about it! This is the brand new album by Producer -Tone Spliff and MC -Vic Monroe and together they drop this 13 track album with the likes of -Philmore Greene and -E.Smitty as features! You couldn’t have asked for more appropriate guest names for this kind of project! From the opening intro skit. You hear the homage to Tribe’s classic -Midnight Marauders with that entity speaking and introducing the album. As the album advances we hear what I’ll die on the hill and say Tone’s best production yet! This is some of the most smooth, soulful and jazzy instrumentation that you can’t help but feel in your heart! We can talk that first offical song -Native Science as we hear a song with some incredibly luscious chord progressions and delicate piano keys that work side by side in a rhythmic harmony that few can replicate. This song also contains some beautifully executed drum work that wraps everything together with some funky bass lines that makes this a shot of early 90’s nostalgia! I can’t not talk about the track -CHICAG-ODE because this is the moment I felt literal goosebumps. Let’s talk the beat first, at first when I heard that high pitch strings I could of sworn I heard that before and I realised it was from Justin Timberlake’s song ‘Strawberry Bubblegum’ so dope to recognise one of the samples! On top of those chords you hear those lively, hypnotic drum work combined with those delicate keys in the background and droning synth style notes! What gave me chills, was PHILMORE GREENE! I knew immediately without even checking the song I was on that this beat was the one with him on it because it speaks to Philmore and the chemistry he showcased alongside Vic was absolutely incredible! The song -THEY CAPPIN was a delightful touch of Soul mixed in with this hip hop experience. This track kicks off with those gorgeous vocal snippets that adds the texture to the song. Alongside those we hear those synth style chords looping around the song with those lavish keys and hypnotic drum work. This one feels more late 80’s then anything else and it blends so well with the classic nature of the whole record! I’ve Said this to the man himself and I’ll say it to anyone who asks or didn’t. Vic Monroe is one of the most (if not the most) underrated rappers in the game period. He’s already built up a tremendous discography that could outshine most other artists and this is somehow his magnum opus (a phrase I’m pretty sure I’ve used on multiple new releases by him) but it’s the truth every single time. See it’s not just that he’s got the 90’s Jazz/Soul production behind him, or two of the strongest lyricists behind him. No it’s the fact that regardless of the situation or vibe of the record he’s one who can adapt and pull off some of the best and most intriguing verses you’ll hear in your lifetime. He’s a true lyricist with something to say who can switch it up on a dime: one minute he’s dropping insightful bombs the next speaking his brash shit and everything in between. He’s like a written author that found the perfect medium to utilise his versatile ideas and penmanship/wordplay! You never know what he’s going to enlighten us with next and that’s the beauty of his writing. A wondering minded author with the ability of a professional in his prime! To be able to go toe to toe with the likes of Philmore and E and still successfully pay homage to the ‘Native Tongue’ is no small feat yet Vic pulls it off! I said it already. This is an album of the year contender. Vic Monroe has never been stronger lyrically and Tone has never been stronger sonically! Put those two together and you have a fucking classic!