I’ll skip the extensive details, but Rape is used to portray his relationship dynamic with music. The metaphors in the previous track were definitely a precursor to this next track titled “Rape”, in true Monch form, and it is graphic in title and in content. We can thank Maxwell for that because that’s where the sample comes from. As violent as the words are, the melodic piano instrumental softens it out. Production on this is almost an oxymoron. This is rapped in true story form, unfiltered and graphic, something we know we can expect from Monch. This is also another perfect example of his lyricism. “Bitches” become “people”, you don’t get “robbed” you “cash dough”…you get the point. Where you can cash dough and chill on the low “There’s a place I know where the people go Where they rob you for your dough and s*** on the low “There’s a place I know where the bitches go He goes from one perspective in the beginning to a clear shift by the end. The way the hook starts off and the way it changes slightly to accommodate the song’s progression is absolutely brilliant. The third track is cleverly titled “Queens” and I love this one for a lot of reasons. so the fact that it’s “battle-like” is very fitting. I’ll leave this track with one last observation, since this was taken from LL’s “To Da Break Of Dawn”, which was a diss track to Ice-T, Kool Moe, etc. This is definitely the track you want to listen to for rawness. That’s the imagery I was talking about and the wordplay is laced throughout as well. “Decapitate his a**, smack him, slap him in the back of the truckĮxasperate the life of his man and then pack it upĬut off his hands and send his girl multiple finger sandwiches”Ĭase in point. S*** on a n**** who resides in the borough of Queens” I’m like a bat with blood coming out of the wings
“What is a scorpion? An animal that stings This track reminds me of a “battle rap”, and it definitely flows the same and the lyrical imagery supports that claim. The beat selection is great with heavy use of bass and a whole lot of sounds going on, but amazingly enough doesn’t drown out Monch.
This leads us in to “Behind Closed Doors” which is self-produced and a perfect showcase of his wordplay. I appreciate it because I know Monch will deliver.
Five lines in, he lays out what fans can (continue) to expect: “What you about to hear is undoubtedly the most incredible MC of the year” and that’s just the beginning of many lines that speak to his own greatness. This is fairly fast paced overall, so it is a great way to start the album. DJ Scratch is to thank for production on this, the beat is cinematic and comes with a high energy feel and Monch’s delivery keeps up. Monch starts his solo debut with a 3-minute intro, which serves as an actual track. Let’s take a look at the tracks that stand out. The hour long, 15 track album gives us an experience that is more raw, more lyrical and just as consistent as his previous work. This would begin the solo career of Pharoahe Monch, so let’s take a look at the album that would kick this off: his “Internal Affairs” album. Up until that point, Monch hadn’t hit the mainstream, he had 3 released albums as part of OK, which they produced themselves, as they seemed to enjoyed the underground circuit.ġ997 would see the end of the duo’s reign in the underground scene and by 1999, after several guests appearances on other albums, Monch would sign to Rawkus Records. His discography isn’t as extensive as other rappers and his acclaim was founded with his involvement in the duo Organized Konfusion with Prince Po, but towards the end of the 90’s, he would go on to record his first solo studio album. I discovered Monch fairly recently personally, and it was like discovering a diamond mine. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the lyrical excellence, the ease of listen and his consistency. Actually, there’s only one other rapper I’ve done this with, but the first was Pharoahe Monch, and truthfully, I’m very glad I did. ( Republished from , By Pharoahe Monch – Internal AffairsĪs much as I love rap and lyrical delivery, it usually takes me quite a few listens before I can form enough of an opinion on a rapper to the point where I would buy their album “blind”.
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