PHAROAHe MONCH

Desire (src/universal)

Pharoahe Monch couldn’t leave rap alone anymore—the game needs him. Amen to that. With seven years in rap’s shadows behind him, the super-lyrical veteran has finally seen the light, convincingly reinventing himself and maintaining his essence. For the Organized Konfusion faithful, there’s a “Stray Bullet” sequel (“Gun Draws”) over Denaun Porter’s macabre strings and some truly apocalyptic production elsewhere from Monch himself. For those whose Pharoahe knowledge extends little past Diddy ghostwriting, his fine-tuned harmonies and even Gnarls Barkley-esque funk (“Body Baby”) work wonders. Despite a frustrating abundance of softcore accessibility, the eclectic and progressive Desire is still that next shit. Consider it Unoriginality: The Extinction Agenda.

1) Freedom Intro Black Milk 2) Free Bo Mckensie 3) Desire Alchemist 4) Push Pharoahe Monch 5) Let’s go Black Milk 6) Body Baby Pharoahe Monch 7) Hold On f/ Erykah Badu Lee Stone 8) Walk Alone Denaun Porter 9) Gun Draws Denaun Porter 10) Bar Tap Black Milk 11) So Good Pharoahe Monch 12) What It Is Pharoahe Monch/Lee Stone 13) Welcome To The Terrordome Sean C

review Matt Barone | illustration Nathan Ota
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