Sometimes I actually like when the “big” album releases slow up. It gives us space to spotlight albums that don’t necessarily get a lot of attention. Which brings me to, L.E.G.A.C.Y. The North Carolina native/Justus League member returns with his new album Suicide Music and this time he brings along Khrysis as the album’s sole producer. What’s Suicide Music? Let’s find out…
1. Intro
L.E.G.A.C.Y. explains the origin of the album title and quickly jumps into the next track.
2. Sucide Music
Produced by Khrysis
On the album’s title track, producer Khrysis provides a sick piano heavy sample. L.E.G. goes in and explains further about Suicide Music; “I only feel love/When I’m hated on/Standing on the edge/Jump! Fuck you waiting on”. This is a great way to start off the album and shows the listener exactly what the rest of the album holds.
3. The Age (Fish)
Produced by Khrysis
Here L.E.G.A.C.Y. talks about what get’s covered in the media (Among other things): “In the same week Paris Hilton got locked up/A sixteen year old behind my building got shot up”. The beat is well produced but at first I wasn’t feeling the hook (“In this computer age, you can get hacked/In this violent age, you can get jacked…”) but it grows on you though.
4. Bang
Produced by Khrysis
The song title doesn’t lie; this is a banger! I know Khrysis get a lot of comparisons to 9th Wonder (Both being members of the Justus League; both heavily uses samples) but songs like these shows Khrysis has his own style. I personally always thought he beats were more gutter than 9th. L.E.G.A.C.Y. doesn’t disappoint either with lines “Chasing dead prez like I’m running after M-1”. He even throws in some Pee Wee’s Big Adventure references for good measure. Towards the end of the song, the beat changes up for about for about 30 seconds and then goes into a clip from the movie Lethal Weapon. This is definitely a stand out track on the album.
5. 4 Cornered Room
Produced by Khrysis
At first listen, this beat may seem a little awkward. But after L.E.G. catches the beat and rhymes about writing rhymes, the song comes into its own and it works. Of course with the title, it’s not surprising that it borrows the hook from the Geto Boys “Mind Playing Tricks On Me” (They do it justice though).
6. Connector Man
Produced by Khrysis
Khrysis really is showing his talent on this album. This beat uses electric guitars and heavy bass which comes off sinister as L.E.G.A.C.Y. rhymes about being a connect; “I can get you meth/I ain’t talking about Tical/I mean we can go to the trailer park now”. Mean.
7. TKO
Featuring Phonte, Chaundon, & Sean Price; Produced by Khrysis
I’ve already talked about how awesome this track in a previous column. Quote: “Man, I messed up not putting this on the front page when it originally came out last week. This shit goes hard! No slackers here; everyone comes with it.” Couldn’t have said it better myself.
8. Policia
Produced by Khrysis
I won’t lie; I’m a sucker for “fuck the police” type songs. L.E.G. goes in; “The obsessed with a thirst to pop shells/They won’t rest till they got us in hot cells/Eating donut slop/At the donut shop/Fuck you Wilbert/I don’t love you killers/Why they fucking with us?/Wanna Diallo us up”. The beat is a little too subdued for my liking though. Still worth a listen. Update: How in the hell did I forget? Around the 2:25 mark, the whole song changes and L.E.G.A.C.Y. raps two stories about promiscuous women and the abuse they put themselves under. It’s a deep song and uses a clever sample. My bad.
9. The Greatest
Featuring Dasan Ahanu; Produced by Khrysis
This is the first single off the album and I understand why it was chosen as such. It’s a great introduction to L.E.G.A.C.Y. as he rhymes about how he’s (of course) The Greatest. It’s some great rhymes here; “I’m the brimstones/And I’m the last fire/I done bent hoes like Quagmire/Over countertops, cars, and furniture/Outside the box the bars of a murderer”. Khrysis brings a synth heavy beat that gets the job done and they add Dasan Ahanu in to do spoken word on the hook.
10. Fly So High
Produced by Khrysis
While I liked the beat on this song; I didn’t really care for the hook (It sounded unintentionally funny). L.E.G.A.C.Y. still gives you more hard lines like; “Back to the basic like the song me and Pooh did/Might bring back the ‘iggidy’ cause I’m so sewage”. Youngsters might not get that one.
11. Looking Glass
Produced by Khrysis
The last track on the album is a laid back, space age sounding track. Even though the beat is more mellow, L.E.G. still keeps the same flow. It’s a contrast from the rest of the album and seem like a odd way to end Suicide Music.
Bottom Line:
When doing album like this where it’s just one primary producer, I think it’s a good move making the album only 11 tracks long. The listener doesn’t tire of the producer’s sound and the point is still made (See Murs & 9th Wonder’s Murray’s Revenge). But also on short albums, songs that you didn’t necessarily like stick out more. L.E.G.A.C.Y. shows on this album that he still makes the music he want to. If you a fan of hard beats and straight spitting, Suicide Music is for. If not…uh, go kill yourself? Okay maybe that was a little harsh…
Download: L.E.G.A.C.Y. – “Bang”
