NYC is the birthplace of hip hop music and arguably the most dynamic city in the world. Full of life and culture, NYC represents everything that is fashion, music and in. NYC represents the coming together of all things great to create something so magnificent; no amount of words can do it justice. So when an artist named N.Y.C. (Never Yet Contested) stepped into the booth to create his debut album, “…In Retrospect”, he did so knowing he had the entire 5 boroughs on his back and that is no light load.
Brooklyn born and raised, NYC is a product of 90’s era of hip hop music which he describes as the greatest time. A time in hip hop when individuality was celebrated. Artists like Dr Dre, Snoop, 2
pac Scarface, Notorious BIG, Jay Z and
Nas, to name a few, all had an impact on hip hop music without trying to emulate anyone else. NYC clearly thinks this is problem under the current administration of hip hop. On “I Can’t Take It”, the lead track from his debut album, NYC cleverly discusses this point. It is an understatement to say he is not feeling what can be heard on the radio right now. However, unlike many of his counterparts, he has no Superman complex. He
doesn’t think he is here to save rap, just simply enhance his craft which he takes seriously and practices often. NYC considers himself above all to be an artist, which explains why he conceptualizes each track on the album in order to give a product that is of substance, rather than fluff. The effort pays off on the album as a whole which plays host to consistent production flowing from one song to the next. With an eclectic combination of mixing and scratching, the production maintains a nostalgic feel, another homage NYC clearly makes to the greater times.
On this album, NYC takes the relationship with the listener seriously as he seeks to build an intimate and committed bond with his fans. As described in the love letter track, “Just Me and You”, his heart is taken by someone special. All else will be a mistress to his one true love, music. When asked about his goal with his listeners, NYC describes the desire to capture a core base of fans who stick by him and his product. On the track, “Transparent”, NYC slowly lifts the veil off his personality and gives the listener a glimpse into the man in the booth. Through many of the follow up tracks like, “Wake Up”, “Probable Cause” and “21”, NYC takes the listener through his view of the world, seeing through the eyes of a man who is clearly intellectual and socially aware. And after you get your dose of the ways of the world 101, NYC lightens things up with fun tracks like “Boob Tube” and “Participate” that display his ability to move the crowd, showing that he
doesn’t take himself so serious that he can not have fun!
Attempting to put NYC in a box would be like trying to describe the most fascinating part of the city for which he shares the namesake, it is virtually impossible. There is the grit and grim of the city that is left on all who grow up in it, along with the glamour and flashing lights that give NYC its unique edge. To top it off there is the cultural diversity and sometimes lack of it that makes NYC the center of social consciousness. The icing on the cake is that NYC is often misunderstood, especially when taken at face value. So for the artist and the city, you have to get involved, get your hands dirty and get deep into it. Listen to the words, inhale the beats, respect the flow, because all those elements are what make “…In Retrospect” a special piece of Hip Hop literature. “…In Retrospect” is a transparent look on hip hop past and present which give more insight on the path to understanding the complexity of NYC.
- By
Maliek Branch
www.myspace.com/neveryetcontestedbkhttp://naturallyimpressivethoughts.blogspot.comwww.myspace.com/impressivethoughts
