legendary West Coast rapper Ras Kass releases a new single, “Guns N Roses” feat. Styles P and Lil Fame, and unveils the release date July 26th for his next LP, Soul on Ice 2.
“Guns N Roses” finds Ras wrecking a dusty psychedelic flip with M.O.P
and Styles P. It’s a classic four alarm, bring-the-big-guns assault; a
tunnel banger for the second decade of the 21st Century.
“Guns N Roses” finds Ras wrecking a dusty psychedelic flip with M.O.P
and Styles P. It’s a classic four alarm, bring-the-big-guns assault; a
tunnel banger for the second decade of the 21st Century.
It’s been nearly a quarter century since Soul of Ice and they
still can’t handle the truth. In fact, the intervening decades since Ras
Kass dropped his classic debut have only validated the poisonous and
panoramic vision of the waterproof MC, who was immediately hailed as the
West Coast’s answer to Nas. And with the nature of the threat growing
more real by the minute, there couldn’t be a more necessary time for
Soul on Ice 2.
still can’t handle the truth. In fact, the intervening decades since Ras
Kass dropped his classic debut have only validated the poisonous and
panoramic vision of the waterproof MC, who was immediately hailed as the
West Coast’s answer to Nas. And with the nature of the threat growing
more real by the minute, there couldn’t be a more necessary time for
Soul on Ice 2.
In nearly half a century of rap, you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone as
venomous, cerebral and creatively fearless as Ras Kass. His lyrics are
like a form of alcohol that ruthlessly kills all toxic germs. Real
hip-hop that aims for the jugular. The best music takes risks and Soul
on Ice 2 is so determined to expose uncomfortable truths that in another
era it would’ve ended up on a banned albums list. It finds the Watts
and Carson-raised seer determined to apply disinfectant and pressure to
the ever-expanding list of American atrocities; this time accompanied by
a hall of fame lineup of rappers and producers including Diamond D,
Pete Rock, Snoop Dogg, Immortal Technique, Justice League, Cee-Lo
Green, DJ Green Lantern, Everlast, Styles P and M.O.P.
venomous, cerebral and creatively fearless as Ras Kass. His lyrics are
like a form of alcohol that ruthlessly kills all toxic germs. Real
hip-hop that aims for the jugular. The best music takes risks and Soul
on Ice 2 is so determined to expose uncomfortable truths that in another
era it would’ve ended up on a banned albums list. It finds the Watts
and Carson-raised seer determined to apply disinfectant and pressure to
the ever-expanding list of American atrocities; this time accompanied by
a hall of fame lineup of rappers and producers including Diamond D,
Pete Rock, Snoop Dogg, Immortal Technique, Justice League, Cee-Lo
Green, DJ Green Lantern, Everlast, Styles P and M.O.P.
From the first track, Ras Kass lays his mission statement in visceral
and unyielding terms. The nature of the threat remains more relevant
than ever. Hate crimes are multiplying. There are Christians in red hats
preaching zero tolerance. In a sly aside, Ras cracks the irony: “Jesus
never said that.” The beat, courtesy of Twiz the Beat Pro operates in
communion with Ras’ semi-automatic-wrapped-in-
and unyielding terms. The nature of the threat remains more relevant
than ever. Hate crimes are multiplying. There are Christians in red hats
preaching zero tolerance. In a sly aside, Ras cracks the irony: “Jesus
never said that.” The beat, courtesy of Twiz the Beat Pro operates in
communion with Ras’ semi-automatic-wrapped-in-
sandpaper voice, flipping a sample of the phrase “it’s been such a long long time.”
What’s stark is how little has changed. The ghosts of America’s original
sins continue to haunt, but they’re now twinned with a variety of new
indignities from minor to major. They range from trust fund kids
pretending to be broke and plasticine women to weed being legal but the
police will still kill you. Then Ras punctuates his flurry of bars by
adding that he’ll probably be underrated for life. It’s a claim that
underscores exactly why his music has continued to matter: it’s
unvarnished and intelligent, devoid of gimmicks or overwrought plays for
radio. These are anthems for seekers and the curious, those who refuse
to adhere to the easy answers and dim lies disseminated by the sinister
and the simple minded.
sins continue to haunt, but they’re now twinned with a variety of new
indignities from minor to major. They range from trust fund kids
pretending to be broke and plasticine women to weed being legal but the
police will still kill you. Then Ras punctuates his flurry of bars by
adding that he’ll probably be underrated for life. It’s a claim that
underscores exactly why his music has continued to matter: it’s
unvarnished and intelligent, devoid of gimmicks or overwrought plays for
radio. These are anthems for seekers and the curious, those who refuse
to adhere to the easy answers and dim lies disseminated by the sinister
and the simple minded.
There is “Grammy Speech,” where Ras imagines what he’d say if he was
ever called up the Staples Center podium. Over a stomp-your-life out
beat that recalls Diamond D’s late 90s collaborations with Pharoahe
Monch, Rass spits a life story in a matter of minutes. He unloads about
being feared and snubbed, corrects popular misconceptions, attacks the
slithering nature of the music industry and accepts the award for all
the real MCs.
ever called up the Staples Center podium. Over a stomp-your-life out
beat that recalls Diamond D’s late 90s collaborations with Pharoahe
Monch, Rass spits a life story in a matter of minutes. He unloads about
being feared and snubbed, corrects popular misconceptions, attacks the
slithering nature of the music industry and accepts the award for all
the real MCs.
Consider “Midnight Sun,” where Cee-Lo adds red clay soul to a
fulmination about the false construction of race. The thundering “White
Power,” where Immortal Technique and Ras eviscerate the tenets of white
supremacy and chronicle the grotesque litany of evils committed by this
demonic colonizer mentality. Yet for all the rage, it finishes with a
message of unity — the notion that all races are really one — and the
only hope for the future is to overthrow the yoke of antiquated
thinking.
fulmination about the false construction of race. The thundering “White
Power,” where Immortal Technique and Ras eviscerate the tenets of white
supremacy and chronicle the grotesque litany of evils committed by this
demonic colonizer mentality. Yet for all the rage, it finishes with a
message of unity — the notion that all races are really one — and the
only hope for the future is to overthrow the yoke of antiquated
thinking.
“Guns and Roses” finds Ras wrecking a dusty psychedelic flip with M.O.P
and Styles P. It’s a classic four alarm, bring-the-big-guns assault. A
tunnel banger for the second decade of the 21st Century. “LL Cool”
brings Snoop Dogg to Carson so the duo of West Coast legends can conjure
a pimped-out low-riding cruise in silk shirts and open collars. The
finale is the harrowing “Opoid Crisis,” where Ras threatens to murder
Republicans before connecting the threads between the CIA flooding
inner-cities with crack and evil corporations getting the entire
populace addicted with the tacit support of the U.S. government.
and Styles P. It’s a classic four alarm, bring-the-big-guns assault. A
tunnel banger for the second decade of the 21st Century. “LL Cool”
brings Snoop Dogg to Carson so the duo of West Coast legends can conjure
a pimped-out low-riding cruise in silk shirts and open collars. The
finale is the harrowing “Opoid Crisis,” where Ras threatens to murder
Republicans before connecting the threads between the CIA flooding
inner-cities with crack and evil corporations getting the entire
populace addicted with the tacit support of the U.S. government.
None of this is for the faint hearted, but Ras Kass never made music for
the soft-handed and headed. On his latest opus, you realize exactly
what a dramatic influence he’s has had on everyone from Kenrick Lamar
and Ab-Soul to Dead Prez and Jay Electronica. Another gem burnishing the
indelible legacy of the one of the greatest rappers to ever incinerate a
microphone. This is eternal soul, ice-cold but somehow never less than
searing.
the soft-handed and headed. On his latest opus, you realize exactly
what a dramatic influence he’s has had on everyone from Kenrick Lamar
and Ab-Soul to Dead Prez and Jay Electronica. Another gem burnishing the
indelible legacy of the one of the greatest rappers to ever incinerate a
microphone. This is eternal soul, ice-cold but somehow never less than
searing.
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