Epidemic----Something For The Listeners

Epidemic-Something For Tha Listeners-Independent-(2013)

Artist: Epidemic

Album: Something For Tha Listeners  

Label: Independent  

Producers: Esco  

Epidemic is a hip hop duo from South Florida consists of artists Hex One and Tek-nition that has got their hands dirty. They have put out mixtapes through the underground circuit and their names are known locally. They got the witty wordplay and it shows on their newest opus Something For Tha Listeners.   

            This album puts you into many different perspectives. Producer Esco masterminded the whole project on the production board and has done an excellent job. Esco brings the ill sample loops and switch with a variety of drum patterns whether they are old school boom bap drums or more contemporary pattern. Meanwhile, rappers Hex One and Tek-nition flows fluently like water throughout the whole album. What amazes me about the hip-hop latin duo is their versatile subject matter that does not make the album monotonous.  “Rhyme Writers” and “Bringing it Back” are perfect examples of spitting lyrics that have heads nodding profusely. “Patience” has a nicely piano loop beat while the duo spits about having patience while the money and fame comes in their direction while “Cool Out” has a slow tempo and the boom bap drum pattern in the background as the duo expresses about women. “Check It Out” which is one of the highlight tracks has a positive message to it starting with a second interlude then hit with the piano loop as they both bodied this track including Tek-nition verse: this goes to the video girls shaking asses/getting paid, but once you hit the age you gonna fade to blackness. Can’t argue with that!

            The consistency of the album is amazing which has not change the momentum. Esco provides the ill piano samples throughout majority of the album and this includes “Monday to Sunday” when both emcees spits about the everyday gripes of life including drugs, love with a stripper, greed, dead end jobs and how their music keeps them afloat. This is the joint most peeps can relate to. Where can Esco put some beat variety as mentioned? Of course with “Poisonous Love” where the beat becomes a little darker but keeps the theme of the album with the hard drum pattern. One thing about this group is they can make a well balance track with a million and one issues for the listeners to relate to.

            For the most part “Something for the Listeners” is the album to listen to. Three important aspects about the material and Epidemic most peeps would not expect: a)the hip hop duo are from South Florida and their rhyming delivery sounds east coast b)production style from Esco sounds in between an east coast producer and west coast producer instead of the normal 808 synths and booming bass sound and c)the group are late 80’s babies and their rhyming delivery sounds from 90’s golden era. This is an advantage because this album has substance. However, this album will be highly slept on because although Esco is a talented producer, his beats may not be current to the newbie listener. This is the same with Epidemic, an awesome hip hop duo but their subject matters are not consist of booty shaking and popping drinks to the good life. This is a shame because originality is no longer embraced to the dopey radio heads. I still recommend this album because it’s a straight well packaged album.

            Strong Tracks: “Patience”, “Check It Out”, “Monday to Sunday”, “Poisonous Love”

            Rating:  out of