At this point, a Statik Selektah release wouldn’t feel right without the recruitment of two dozen rappers backed by fiery production. This signature approach is tweaked slightly on Population Control, where the Lawrence, MA producer/deejay has primarily reached out to a younger crowd of emcees that he believes will carry Hip Hop into the future. His selected torchbearers are at best reassuring, with thriving upstarts like Big K.R.I.T., STS and Action Bronson highlighting a lyrical prowess that warrant repeat listens. Then, peep “Sam Jack,” 
where abrasive horns and drums from Statik bring out the best in XV, Jon Connor and Kid Daytona. Equally impressive is “Black Swan,” which shines the light on a few female emcees that have been paying their dues. Shedding any notion of a “pretty girl syndrome,” Nitty Scott MC and Rapsody rip the microphone to the point that you’re slightly embarrassed for their male contemporaries.
Acting accordingly, Statik also gathers up a handful of veteran mainstays like Bun B, Talib Kweli and Sean Price as well as his Showoff Records’ comrades Termanology and Reks to round out the revolving door of lyricists. Over an eerie yet alluring beat, Kweli sneakily spits darts (“Nigga’s is sheepish, secretive, so mysterious / Claiming that you’re blood but you’re really on your period”) on “You’re Gone,” while the celebratory anthem “New York, New York” fittingly settles in with instinctive verses from natives Saigon and Styles P. In a collaboration that seems nearly improbable, “Damn Right” turns out to be the album’s standout record. Matching Brother Ali’s stream of consciousness with Joell Ortiz’s gritty cadence, the two deliver a radiant performance on overcoming inner city struggles.
Statik Selektah has never been the one to short his listeners on material; however this decision leaves Population Control open to spotty execution. Teaming up three young individuals that inadequately back up their arrogant rhymes, “The High Life” boringly meanders to less than desirable production from Statik. Mac Miller’s record doesn’t fare much better, with unimaginative rhymes about an overplayed theme falling far short of impressionable. It also doesn’t help that Josh Xantus sounds tonally flat on the hook. Consequently, the album lacks cohesion, making it easier to jump around the tracks rather than listen all the way through.
Statik Selektah may cosign all the rappers present on Population Control, but it’s evident that his approval doesn’t necessarily translate to a pristine collaboration in every instance. Still, as an artist who has built his reputation on consistency, his latest effort is a fairly solid project that likewise keeps the embers of Hip Hop glowing with passion.
Nice album.
most of the songs are good
nice album need more shit like this
statik puts out way too much material. he should slow it down, every album has throwaway joints. a lot of statik beats sound like they were put together in 5 minutes, which they probably were. he can get great features, but he consistently works with rappers i can’t fuck with. i think if he put his all into a project, and let it simmer, he could do something special. dropping a ton of mediocre material doesn’t impress me, personally. i’d rather an artist take his time to deliver quality work everytime he drops. this isn’t a new thing with statik. he’s overworked. dude is a grinder. as i say all this, i have to say, his best album was the shit he did with saigon in 24 hours. LOL so maybe he should speed it up. this album was a snooze fest IMO, wanted to like it.
2.5/5
co sign
Heard this at the “Population Control” listening party last month. Can honestly say the CDs amazing. COP THAT SHIT!
This album is good!
I have got itunes version of this and uploaded on
hip-hoproom.com/statik-selektah-population-control
download for free
Statik Selektah has no respect for his fans. I used to buy his albums, till he started releasing 10 a year.
R.E.K.S. actually made a DOPE ALBUM, and this is the thanks he gets?
So Statik doesn’t respect his fans considering that he releases a shit-load of music every year? What kind of retarded logic is that??
Dope. 5/5
good job stat
Statik comes through with another dope hip-hop collabo with vets Sean Price Styles P and Saigon with young cats like Big KRIT Jon Connor and Mac Miller.
Classic Hip-Hop at its best.
Nice shitty, inaccurate review!
Dude overdosed a minute ago, he needs to slow down the pace and put some time into one of these projects
Lets Build homie lets Build!!! Wais P spazzed on that!! “your car may be hot…it depends whos in it”
sick line. statik should do a whole project with P
Actually, that lines been said. This album sux. Statik selektah just keeps gettin worse. Fuck is this shit, elevator music?! Dude was never better than average! Shit sounds like smooth jazz or some BS!!
kinda smooth album
Mediocre on a good day.
Those tracks sounded pretty good, gonna have to check out the rest
hiphopdx and the user review on this site can eat a fuckin’ dick 4 real. at least 4 out of 5
Being off by a half star is “eat a dick” territory? U must be a charmer
and you must be a faggot…this album is way better than a 3.5 which is what i said – retard.
@Brian, you are stupid. 3.5 and 4 stars arent exactly a lightyear apart. Go fuck yourself you worthless dicksucker!!
I could slap you right now!!
this is fire….this review is weak
Word Up!!
The is one of the hottest joints all year.
How can you flame it?
And why the fuck would you want statik to stay low & simmer? Thats how mutherfuckers become irrelavent!!
Real hiphop is alive & well inside this albuM!
no. cats go irrelevant when you’re not checking for their shit anymore. i’m a statik fan, dude drops way too much mediocre material. it’s half dope half forgettable. i want him to take time to make the best shit he can possibly make, internet age has rappers doing a thousand projects a year that have no staying power. statik stays busy, but none of these projects really hit to any impact, cuz by the time this is in stores, he’s hyping something else up. i’m not mad at his work ethic, i just think he could slow it down a little and drop hotter material. only on the net is this considered hate. guy can make 100 decent sandwiches really fast. make me one really good sandwich and i’m happy. just me talking, music fan for life.
i like how for every album rated 3-3.5, people hate on hiphopdx. what do you want them to do, rate everything 4-4.5/5? whats the fuckin point of reviewing an album then, faggots.
the point is to get it right – faggot.
^
^ truth be told
This CDs insane! These Reks & Statik interviews I just saw are crazy too. Check em out: http://nehip-hop.com/?p=441
He made his best album to date, I don’t think there’s any wack songs here, only one song bores me. Definitely feels more like an album unlike his previous albums which sounded more like mixtapes. “To the Top (Stick 2 the Script)” is still his best song though. Def better features than the last 2.
This Album go hard just like all the albums, produced by my Brooklyn natives Duck down Records! keep them Albums coming!!
yup duck down and show off def put out the best stuff of 2011. shady 2.0 set to take 2012 tho
To the 12 people who know who he, Statik Selekath may officially be more annoying than DJ Khaled.
I really respect Statik for trying to give artists that are less known some shine on his albums. This is his best album to date..I was really disappointed in the Gibbs/Statik album but this has made up for that. My fav tracks are “Your Gone”, “Damn Right”, and “Play the Game”. I think Big KRIT and Gibbs are the hottest rappers in the game right now..they should do an album
“your gone” has the worst hook i’ve ever heard…Str8 Up.
Dope album… Have you seen the 8&9 Official Population Control Tee? It’s a must have along with the album —> http://shop.8and9.com/Population-Control-T-Shirt-p/statik.htm | http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/11/prweb8923642.htm
horrific album 1.10/5
Fing annoying! What beat is that again in the beginning of the “Sam Jack” preview?? Argh..
Yay, found out, now I can go to sleep, its this one; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8S-8rB8ln4&feature=related
4.5/5 wow this the best compilation album since the professional pt.1 and ruff ryders vol.1
and this might be better than those classics, over time
i feel like its Fire
Again…800 features on an album with 2 memorable songs. The review was generous. 2/5
TRASH
sick
good one