By Joel Brogan

656, which released on January 23, is the 10th studio album he has released. It is written, produced and performed by Marciano himself. It is also followed with a couple of features from Errol Holden, an emerging artist from New York.

Nicknamed the “Godfather of the Underground”, hip-hop legend Roc Marciano has come a long way since his debut in 2005. He has proved himself repeatedly with his masterfully produced beats which fuse elements of jazz and soul.

He often opts for a raw, minimalist approach to his production, resulting in a gritty yet intriguing listen. He has influenced several artists such as Earl Sweatshirt and The Griselda Collective.

Earl Sweatshirt, whose production has been inspired by Roc Marciano (via Getty Images)

Slowly gaining traction from his many collabs with fellow producer The Alchemist, and rapper Westside Gunn. Roc Marciano is finally getting the respect he deserves.

656 starts with the first track Trick Bag. It begins with an echoing organ, making it feel like an introduction to a horror movie. Then appears a graceful sounding saxophone, adding a contrast to the melody. It flows well, and has a smooth, crisp sound to it. He talks about his rise to fame, and how he went from having nothing to having something.

The second track on the album, Childish Things, starts with a mirage of synths, which is then joined with Marciano’s fast paced deep lyrics. Relating to the first song, he talks about his money and popularity. He also delves into his past, and how he was engaged in the drug trade from an early age. The song switches up towards the end, opting for heavier synths which relates to his dark lyrics.

The fourth track on the album, Yves St. Moron, differs from the other tracks on the album. Most of the songs on display are backed by soul samples. Yves St. Moron is instead backed by one trumpet fading in and out of the beat, with Marciano’s vocals laid out on top of it. While it tries to go for something different it’s a boring and forgetful track on the album.

Roc Marciano (right) backstage at Irving Plaza (via Getty Images)

Other standouts within the album include Hate is Love, which samples Hey Mr. Love by The Citations. This creates a euphoric listen as the soul sample echoes throughout the beat, and it leaves you wanting more.

The track Tracey Morgan Vomit makes countless references to African American culture. It tells the listener what kind of struggles the Black community faces. The song Easy Bake Oven talks about the struggles Marciano faced when growing up in Hempstead, New York. The sample however is one that doesn’t land that well, it feels repetitive.

Overall, Marciano sticks to his guns and plays it safe. While it isn’t a genre defining hip-hop album it’s an entertaining listen. His wordplay and producing are still premium and he hasn’t fell off in consistency, however, it gets repetitive.

There’s not a varied palette of sounds and it doesn’t really go for anything experimental. If you’re a fan of hip-hop you should check it out, however, in my opinion it’s an acquired taste.

7/10

Godfather of the Underground is Back – 656 Review