Rock (of Heltah Skeltah) Release New Album, "Rockness A.P."
and Visual For "Shine Down"
Before releasing his much anticipated solo debut album, Rock’s
place in Hip-Hop history was already cemented. In addition to his
discography on notable solo mixtapes, he is a card carrying member of
Boot Camp Clik and, of course, released three acclaimed albums as Heltah
Skeltah, alongside the late Sean Price. But it’s this project, Rockness A.P.,
that provides a fully formed look at the proud Brownsville native and
what it means to move on with your career after suffering such a tragic
loss (the “A.P.” stands for “After Price”).
If
your first thought is to ask why this album took so long to come
together, Rock addresses it directly on the straight-up flooring title
track. Armed with his trademark bass heavy voice, the emcee unpacks
exactly what happened in his career so far—the good, the bad, and the
ugly—over a fittingly emotional instrumental from the Arcitype. “Rockness A.P.”
is brutally honest, and it represents the best of what defines his
artistry: no-bullsh*t lyricism delivered through an incredibly
expressive lens.
You
hear more of this, albeit with varied subject matter, on other standout
tracks, most of which are produced by the duo of Ford Tuff & Pascal
Zumaque. There’s the threatening bully talk of “Wishin’” featuring Kuniva (of D12), the grimy braggadocio of “FaxMachine” featuring fellow Brownsville natives M.O.P., and the cypher-esque hype of “Camp-Wu”
featuring Inspectah Deck, Method Man, Tek, and Steele. These cuts
highlight both the versatility of Rock’s subject matter and his cadence.
He may have that unmistakable growl as his go-to weapon, but his
arsenal includes a shape-shifting delivery as well.
To say the wait has been worth it for Rockness A.P.
almost feels like an understatement. But it also feels as if we’re
overlooking the fact that Rock’s career to date has been damn near
untouchable. It may have had the ups and downs described on the title
track—particularly the tragic loss of his longtime rap partner, Sean
P—but one thing’s clear: Rock’s energy and passion for creating Hip-Hop
has never wavered.
Rockness A.P., which was executive produced by Phil Anastasia, is available now on all major streaming services and digital platforms, and can be purchased on CD via Digital Déjà Vu Records. Vinyl pre-order are now available via Fat Beats for a Dec 15 release date.
Tracklist:
01. Just Rap
02. Wishin (feat. Kuniva)
03. GW BaG
04. Camp-Wu (feat. Instpectah Deck, Method Man, & Tek & Steele)
05. Rumble for Me (feat. Kofi Black & Ron Browz)
06. O.G.
07. FaxMachine (feat. M.O.P.)
08. The Purge
09. Poof (feat. Buckshot)
10. Declaration (feat. Raekwon, Ras Kass & The Last American B-Boy)
11. Rockness A.P.
12. F.A.M. (feat. Young Noble)
13. Shine Down (feat. Kofi Black)
14. Da Streets Want Blood (Ron Browz Remix)
02. Wishin (feat. Kuniva)
03. GW BaG
04. Camp-Wu (feat. Instpectah Deck, Method Man, & Tek & Steele)
05. Rumble for Me (feat. Kofi Black & Ron Browz)
06. O.G.
07. FaxMachine (feat. M.O.P.)
08. The Purge
09. Poof (feat. Buckshot)
10. Declaration (feat. Raekwon, Ras Kass & The Last American B-Boy)
11. Rockness A.P.
12. F.A.M. (feat. Young Noble)
13. Shine Down (feat. Kofi Black)
14. Da Streets Want Blood (Ron Browz Remix)