Cut the flash, the glitz and the glamour. Bronx legends G-Rod and Chi Ali are proof that the vibrant voice of the underground still has a place within the mainstays of hip hop. Besides the suspenseful instrumental that feels like a sinister, impending doom, a series of braggadocious, yet witty rhymes and a mesmerizing sample of The Notorious B.I.G. on the hook–which are all definitive motifs of the East Coast sound-“Untouchable” does one thing that seems to be rare within today’s scene.
What happened to the the dynamic relationship between the DJ/producer and the emcee? Sure, there are times where we need a track to focus on the flow between two distinct rappers (shouts out to Outkast) or when we need to vibe with a posse cut, but it seems that an artist cannot make a track these days without a feature. This crutch ends up becoming a standard within the scene that fools up and comers into believing this mode of music delivery is the only way to get heard. But let’s not forget that, although the sounds may seem distant, the Bronx will always keep creating it.
G-Rod (feat. Chi Ali)
Untouchable
- Sour Music Group
- October 11th, 2013