2007 is supposed to be the year that New York street rappers make a comeback. So who’s first up to bat? Joell Ortiz, a Brooklyn MC and mixtape linguist who’s garnered positive feedback for much of this decade, from a spot in The Source’s “Unsigned Hype” column to much love from New York jocks like Kayslay and Whoo Kid. His debut album, The Brick (Bodega Chronicles), is coming out via indie Koch Records, a label that’s getting newfound respect courtesy of Jim Jones (who would’ve thought?). It hits stores on April 24.
Some of the guests on The Brick include Immortal Technique, M.O.P., Ras Kass, Grafh, Maino, Big Daddy Kane and Stimuli. Beats come courtesy of the Alchemist, Showbiz and Lil Fame from M.O.P.
In a press release, Ortiz says, “It’s a soundtrack to the hood version of David vs. Goliath. That’s the best way to describe it. If you’ve ever gone through some rough waters, this album is for you. It’s the common man’s music. Industry people, so-called ‘cool guys’ and ‘posers,’ don’t get this music and they never will. It’s not for them. It’s for us.”
The first single from The Brick (Bodega Chronicles) is “Hip-Hop.” You can stream the track below.
Stream: Hip-Hop
