REVIEW: Roc Doogie’s “Roc Paper Scissors”
Beats, rhymes, and life. Or in this case “eternal life”, as those who love hip-hop are always following a sound that they hope will last forever, or as long as they live. Once you are hooked by a sound of vibe, it’s not about looking for more of the same, but hearing how many ways you are able to manipulate it to balance things nicely. This album by Roc Doogie could have easily been found in a shoebox you found in your mom’s storage facility, the one you forgot about and had been looking for for years because no one has digitized it on Blogspot yet. In other words, it sounds like an album recorded in a basement at 4am with nothing but a bowl of Rice Chex, beer, and a close-to-expired can of cocktail peanuts. The lyrics flow out beautifully and with craft, and it’s not just in one verse or song, but on every song on Roc Paper Scissors. He knows how to flip words and phrases to be said one way, but ends up becoming something else by the time you reach the end of the line/sentence, and paragraph/verse.
I’ve always felt that sometime in the 1990′s, hip-hop divided itself for selfish reasons. One half wanted to stunt its own growth, while those who were growing were more than willing to grow further and age gracefully. Roc Doogie is about maturity, understanding that being young and youthful is one thing, but making music as if you were worth a tax refund check is what everyone should aspire to, and Roc aspires. Proud to know music like this exists, may this spread to those who need to hear it, and everyone who is ignorant of what’s better.
BEST OF 2012: My Favorite Albums Of The Year | This Is Book's Music posted: 21 Dec at 6:56 pm
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