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Doomtree Announces 2012 No Kings Tour DatesTaking New York Hip-Hop back to more tried and true territory, a fresh and very game MC from the City’s largest borough aims to show you just how famished he is to bring back a sound that is dying off all too quickly…
Bekay doesn’t rap to impress people. The young Brooklyn bred, snarling wildcat of an artist rhymes to express himself in the rawest fashion possible. His bars can range from intense to profound and they mold his highly anticipated debut Hunger Pains effectively. There is a thick sense of history that you catch almost as soon as you hear him start spitting. He’s got that cocky and self assured north eastern flavor that was so commonplace in NYC about a decade and half ago. Maybe it was overkill back in the day when every dude in the tri-state that dropped a record tried behaving like he was Biggie, but in this day and age when the region as a whole has lost a good bit of identity, it’s a welcomed outlook that he’s a true son of Brooklyn, respectively.
By the time you get to the former 106th And Park contestant’s third track you should begin to understand what he’s doing. His taste for glowing, head nodding samples, dope DJ cutting, the creme De la creme of modern boom bap producers and lyrical aide from some of the 90′s most celebrated wordsmiths clearly makes a statement. He’s here to restore some of that past glory, no doubt about it.
The Coalmine Records signee is not just some flash in the pan guy seeking fame, a quick check or to live out some nerdy fantasy. In fact, He’s a polished MC and he’s dropped a debut that not only is technically very well constructed but also has a unique lil’ personality to it, ensuring it’s highbrow status for years to come.
Whether going line for line with the always formidable R.A. The Rugged Man on the squealing Marco Polo rhythm “Pipe Dreams” or combining with Masta Ace to pay homage to Kings County over the feel good DJ Babu laced “Brooklyn Bridge”, Bekay seems comfortable emceeing in any climate. A guy that can flip brainy metaphors or provide vivid, hardcore imagery, Kay’s talent beams through Hunger Pains brightly. His collaborations all gel nicely and high points are abound when he teams with the likes of Inspectah Deck and Evidence to pummel soundscapes. Perhaps his best effort came when he took the time to reflect deeply. “Visions” is one track that has a startling level of spirituality as well as morbidity, which is quite a balance to strike on one song, but he pulls it off masterfully without so much as a flinch. Much was made of the Alchemist produced “I Am” leading up to this release, but I’m happy to say it’s only one of the album’s many superior moments.
As long as there are a few guys in the game who not only are able to safeguard the art as well as nudge it in reasonable and interesting new directions than Hip-Hop in NYC as well as the world over has hope. Bekay stepped to the plate as a relative unknown who had created some underground buzz with some hardcore offerings and hit a grand slam. When given the opportunity to craft a full-length LP he put it together admirably and with real heads in mind. A wonderful collection of work, Hunger Pains easily checks in as the 4th quarter’s finest record.
-Dominick “BIG D O” Ledezma
November 7th, 2009 at 7:15 am
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by coalminerecords and aboveGround Magazine, aboveGround Magazine. aboveGround Magazine said: Check it: Bekay – Hunger Pains http://bit.ly/2Uat8J [...]
November 8th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
I didn’t even know this was out. Sounds dope, I’ll have to check it out.
November 13th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
[...] being called “…the 4th quarters finest record”, Hunger Pains is the highly anticipated full length release from underground heavyweight Bekay. [...]
February 5th, 2010 at 1:58 am
One of the best albums I’ve owned in a longtime