Statik Selektah
100 Proof (The Hangover)
In making an album with The Hangover as a subtitle, it's worth saying that Statik Selektah has a "wolf-pack" of emcees. 100 Proof sees the New York-based producer/deejay showing off his diverse taste by bringing in talent from his various industry associations. The album includes appearances from everyone from Kool G. Rap and Skyzoo to Fashawn and Souls of Mischief. Equipped with DJ Premier-esque scratches and a convincing dedication to lyricist, 100 Proof is a solid ride that hits every coast leaving a plethora of quotables in its trail.
The first single of Statik's third such compilation album is a successful collaboration between Styles P and Talib Kweli entitled “The Thrill is Gone”
. Like their first union (2006's "Testify"), the track finds each emcee bringing their best, meshing beautifully over Statik's best production of the album. The listener can’t help but feel Hip Hop's heartbeat when both Styles and Kweli spit. Statik has the knack to match several artists together, which end up being organic-sounding collaborations. “Get Out” features Skyzoo, Rapper Pooh, Torae and Lee Wilson is one those moments. The lineup seems to suit Statik's production style and each emcee brings forth a dope effort. Skyzoo, who leads the track off, absolutely obliterates the verse, using the small opportunity to set what is surely the album's lyrical best.
The production varies from solid to the cusp of greatness. Statik does understand the importance of hard hitting drums and bass lines that seem to match those drums perfectly. He stumbles at times with the chords and samples that are layered overtop of the drums and bass lines. While tracks like “Critically Acclaimed” show that Statik Selektah is a force to be reckoned with while “Do It 2 Death” is clearly an above average track but the production seems a bit manic. “Follow We” is the hardest production on the album. Statik chooses dark strings to go over a haunting bass line. The beat is tailor-made for Smif-N-Wessun, who do the dope production justice. “Life is Short” sees Consequence spit a gem over a pensive musical backdrop. "So Close, So Far” features Bun B, Wale and Colin Munroe. Each artist is stellar, but unfortunately Statik's choice of saxophone in the track sounds more like Smooth Jazz than Hip Hop. Where many producers would have distorted the saxophone and manipulated its sound, Statik decides to play it safe.
In the lineage of great producers ascending from mixtapes (Dr. Dre, Evil Dee, Marley Marl), Statik Selektah is truly above his '00s contemporaries. One can hear the student in Statik Selektah's work, and know that he's played records with a passion. 100 Proof is consistent with Statik taking the listener on a ride filled with different textures of production and plethora of dope emcees. As seen in All In A Day's Work and Stick To The Script, the producer is still evolving in taking his album-making from very good to excellent. The expectations continue to grow with Statik Selektah and this is a solid addition to a growing catalogue, which should satisfy his fans and followers for the moment.
The first single of Statik's third such compilation album is a successful collaboration between Styles P and Talib Kweli entitled “The Thrill is Gone”
. Like their first union (2006's "Testify"), the track finds each emcee bringing their best, meshing beautifully over Statik's best production of the album. The listener can’t help but feel Hip Hop's heartbeat when both Styles and Kweli spit. Statik has the knack to match several artists together, which end up being organic-sounding collaborations. “Get Out” features Skyzoo, Rapper Pooh, Torae and Lee Wilson is one those moments. The lineup seems to suit Statik's production style and each emcee brings forth a dope effort. Skyzoo, who leads the track off, absolutely obliterates the verse, using the small opportunity to set what is surely the album's lyrical best.The production varies from solid to the cusp of greatness. Statik does understand the importance of hard hitting drums and bass lines that seem to match those drums perfectly. He stumbles at times with the chords and samples that are layered overtop of the drums and bass lines. While tracks like “Critically Acclaimed”
show that Statik Selektah is a force to be reckoned with while “Do It 2 Death” is clearly an above average track but the production seems a bit manic. “Follow We” is the hardest production on the album. Statik chooses dark strings to go over a haunting bass line. The beat is tailor-made for Smif-N-Wessun, who do the dope production justice. “Life is Short” sees Consequence spit a gem over a pensive musical backdrop. "So Close, So Far” features Bun B, Wale and Colin Munroe. Each artist is stellar, but unfortunately Statik's choice of saxophone in the track sounds more like Smooth Jazz than Hip Hop. Where many producers would have distorted the saxophone and manipulated its sound, Statik decides to play it safe.In the lineage of great producers ascending from mixtapes (Dr. Dre, Evil Dee, Marley Marl), Statik Selektah is truly above his '00s contemporaries. One can hear the student in Statik Selektah's work, and know that he's played records with a passion. 100 Proof is consistent with Statik taking the listener on a ride filled with different textures of production and plethora of dope emcees. As seen in All In A Day's Work and Stick To The Script, the producer is still evolving in taking his album-making from very good to excellent. The expectations continue to grow with Statik Selektah and this is a solid addition to a growing catalogue, which should satisfy his fans and followers for the moment.
one moment...
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Comments 35 posts
LewisHegeman:
This is a strong, up-and-coming team -- and the homie Reks is a mic destroyer... Catch him alongside AWKWORD, C-Rayz Walz and El-Gant on the political banger "Imperialismo", prod. by Rawkus's own Jonny Lupo (originally of Moldova), off the upcoming World View album... coming soon... to HipHopDX???
shmosif:
This CD is so damn good from beginning to end. Statik showcases a versatile arsenal of beats that bring out the best of every mc on the album. Got my copy at Amoeba and was well worth the money.
ps the thrill is gone IS a tight track but IS NOT the only fire ass song...seriously theres just straight bangers on this ur MISSING OUT if you dont have this
nevasleep:
The Thrill is gone track is one of the best tracks i've heard in years and years...brings me back to highschool ridin around in my pops Buick Lesabre
ddvdv:
Classic!
BEANTOWN88:
hell yeah
yeayea:
statik killing them beats
C.:
I don't think comparing old releases to new ones is saying anything, this album is a body of work of its own & on that note a good one.
One thing i really like about Statik is he maintains he signature sound but it never sounds redundant.
overall another great release.
Gods_Son23:
one of those solid albums but where nothing is outstanding.
rainer331:
The album is fire ... again another GOOD review but LAME rating.. its 4-4.5 stars... HOT AS A MOTHAFUCKa... life is short and Follow me are CLASSIC
H:
He can spit and like some of these comments its true hip hop in the purest form. My only thing I have about this dude is that he is a white boy saying niguh over and over again. Somebody tell me why is that and Shady himself never goes that way!!
allowAname:
3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half 3 and a half
FUCK YOU HHDX ENOUGH OF YOUR BULLSHIT ALREADY JUST REVIEW IT DONT GIVE IT STARS!!!
__--__:
yea they give every album 3.5
Bawseman:
What the fuck are yall mainstream mafuckaz listening to real hip hop anyway? This album is fire on every single track. Expand your mind
Loc:
I think Statik has winning formula, I've listened three or four times and I can't say I think this is the best one. I also think I liked the first one because it was all so new at the time. The sound of his beats, Term, Reks, Skyzoo, Torae, etc, it was my first time gettin familiar with them. The second was also banging, this one is too.
I think it just lacked the punch for me of the initial releases. I gotta say though, track 3 with Fame, Saigon and Sean P, thats my JOINT right there.
nixnox:
This is a dope album period....I am a big fan of Statiks production and just glad to see him do his thing...keep up the good work Statik....
hahaHAHAHAH:
OH BY THE WAY....TO BE A GOOD PRODUCER, YOU GOTTA HAVE YOUR OWN SOUND; AND I SEE STATIK TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, AND I DEF GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR THAT. BUT YOU HEAR A DUDE LIKE DJ SPINNA FOR EXAMPLE, WHO'S GOT SUCH AN ILL-ASS, ORIGINAL SOUND, AND YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "GODDAMN THIS DUDE'S ILL!!" OH SHIT! I CAN'T FORGET J-ZONE!! THAT DUDE IS I NSANE!
Boom Bye Yeah:
Good point on Spinna
hahaHAHAHAH:
I agree with the last few comments. STATIK JUST ISN'T TURNING OUT TO BE THAT GREAT, MAN...HE'S JUST NOT THAT GOOD! HE'S THE DEFINITION OF AN AVERAGE PRODUCER, STRAIGHT UP. HE IS, BY NO MEANS, A BAD PRODUCER, BUT HE'S ALSO NOT THAT GREAT! HIS BEATS JUST AREN'T THAT TIGHT! PEOPLE HAVE SAID THINGS ABOUT STATIK POSSIBLY BECOMING THE NEXT PREMO. I CAN'T AGREE WITH THAT, BECAUSE HIS BEATS JUST AREN'T GOOD ENOUGH TO COMPARE HIM TO PREMIER. HE NEEDS TO STEP IT UP A LITTLE. BUT I GOTTA AGREE WITH DX, THAT "FOLLOW ME" JOINT IS FUCKIN BONKERS!! IF HE HAD MORE SHIT LIKE THAT, I THINK HE'D BE A BIT BETTER. DUDES LIKE MARCO POLO AND ILLMIND ARE UP AND COMING PRODUCERS WHO ARE MUCH BETTER THAN STATIK....AGAIN, STATIK IS DEFINITELY GOOD, BUT HE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT...
big braveheart:
This is damn cool and a dope album. I've got Statik's 3 lps and loved his debut and thought his 2nd wasn't bad or great but this is a move forward and the quality of his production is pretty damn good. Love how he combines dope loops with great scratches and boom bap beats and has a real love for the music. The first 5 or 6 tracks are pure fire. So Far, So Close is some good laidback shit with Bun B & Wale, Critically Acclaimed is a great track, Follow We & Do It To Death follow up with some great verses from Smif N Wessun then Lil Fame, Havoc & G Rap and al the guest artists hold it down lyrically on the album. Definitely recommended and better than a lot of the pish out there. The Thrill Is Gone is a helluva track with nice Biggie vocal samples and Styles & Kweli on top form.
Fuck the haters who be talking shit about Statik - he's one of the best producer/ DJs out and has a great ear for good music!
215:
Dude, can't agree anymore. This album is fire! There's no was people can hate on this album..just no way.
moh112:
statik needs to get it together.
Mier$:
Just ok as usual with Statik
boston:
no rating cus i've only heard a few songs so far but i just got the album!.. love statik's old school production/choice of strong/diverse MC's to flow over it - according to the above it seems like he will deliver what i want on this cd again... opening line to this review is corny, but funny as shit
ps. nice review dx.. but 'NY based' maybe, statik is MA all day
what he said^^^:
Yo! i don't know if someone at DX is confused or if they are trying to steal Statik from Boston but this is the 2nd review where I've seen DX call him a NY or Brooklyn producer.
Statik = Boston
Ummmm:
Statik lives in Brooklyn. Listen to Bun B's mixtape for starters.
I bet you fags do this with Jeff Bagwell and Doug Flutie too.
sheeeeeet:
...and 50 cent lives in connecticut but everyone knows he's from Queens. Statik reps Boston, thats where he's from and where he established a career. same w/ Reks & Term.
anyway this doesn't matter, cop the album
KINGOFEVERYONE:
Full of goooooood shiT!
TheSecondComing:
His most solid release yet. I know won't most agree, but it flows the best.
DutchMasters Music:
I do like the beginning and the end of the album- the middle kind of sags for me. ,
rock raines:
Dude just needs to take his TIME with these projects. It's not a sprint, it's a marathon. I thought his first album was the best, Spell My Name Right. I paid cash for that. Since then, I dunno. Too much ends up online and the thrill is gone, pun intended.
One thing I will say... Statik is a WAY better producer than Green Lantern. I think he's nicer than Don Cannon too.
I may buy this. I want to hear Skyzoo's verse after reading review.
DutchMasters Music:
I totally agree.
The best song on this album is "The Thrill is Gone" by far, and it really hurts when the best song you got is one we've already heard.
The albums have been getting worse and worse- while the tracks sound more polished, the overall catchiness of the samples is not there like it used to be.
There's something to be said for producers like Kanye and Dre who sit on the beats they want for their own albums for a long time, to make sure that the tracks are timeless.
moh112:
I agree Spell My Name Right was by far the best
B.L.:
rated
B.L.:
Good album
been waitin