I remember raving about these cats’ Ghastly Duo EP a hot minute ago and now that I’ve heard the new album 2012: The New Beginning, from the the enigmatic duo “from parts unknown” AKA The Doppelgangaz who hail from NYC, I feel justified in my initial praise….This is that real Hip-Hop you been waiting to hear.
Signed to NYC production legend Darell “Digga” Branch’s (remember him? Children Of The Corn, The Diplomats, etc.) Six Figga Entertainment label, Matter Ov Fact and EP have successfully reached their target audience…That being golden age, boom bap starved fans who long for an adamant, dependable new group to turn to in times of mass confusion within’ Hip-Hop.
The Doppelgangaz masterful use of sordid and abstract rhymes that they kick over hypnotic, vinyl static infused samples is mesmerizing. Honestly I don’t know whether Digga had anything to do with the production on this, but if he did, wow, talk about a triumphant return from a somewhat lengthy hiatus.
The pair seems to feed off of their mysteriousness and don’t offer a whole heck of a lot of info on their background’s or this project’s production credits. I suspect that’s just how they like to do things, and EP–who doubles as the pair’s in-house beat master–might of had a hand in the LP’s perfected production, if not having done all of it. From the moody marches of tracks like “Timbuktu”, to the hazy, coasting sounds on “Vibes” and “The Props”, you’ll be challenged to find a more authentic, heady look from any release this year. Striking a balance between depressive and aggressive 2012: The New Beginning is the perfect music for that impromptu stroll to the corner store to hastily procure a pack of Dutchies. Maybe that doesn’t exactly sound a whole lot like an accolade, but rest assured it is…
While the musical assembly is strong, I do expect that some listeners won’t connect with the hardcore imagery that EP and Matter Ov Fact’s bars contain. If your not someone that grew up bumping or at least was occasionally exposed to hard and horrorcore acts of the 90’s like Onyx, The Gravediggaz , Kool Keith, etc., etc., than you’ll probably be left scratching your head wondering how I thought this was that great. Whether you find some of the more indiscreet rhymes off-putting or just the kind of fun, careless pennings you’ve been clamoring for, there’s no denying that their delivery is on-point. Hey, when all else fails stick to judging the fundamentals and you’ll find a solid middle ground. So even though the lyrics might be at the polar opposite end of your usual listening spectrum, the universal appeal of the production and the combination’s more than competent grasp of strong structural rhyming should win you over.
It’s amazing that these two talented cats are willing to just give this album away for nothing…maybe even sad, but whatever the case, 2012: The New Beginning is 14 tracks of that raw, real and artistically brave ish’ that so many of us flocked to Hip-Hop for once upon a time. All nostalgia aside it’s one of the leading and most cohesive albums of 09′.
-Dominick “BIG D O” Ledezma
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