PICKS POSSE - Week #2
The IP’S PICKS community shares what they’re listening to.
Yo! The PICKS POSSE is back in effect this week with some fire selections. Shout to the new and returning contributors, appreciate you all. LFG.
Ev Boogie: La Reezy “Hungy Flows”
The thing about not chasing release dates or refreshing timelines for new music is you start to realize an old truth—good music finds you. That’s how I ended up on La Reezy. Young, hungry, with the spirit of a modern-day Tyler and the lyrical bite of a young Andre 3000. Welcome to La Reezyana feels like restless creativity stitched to razor-sharp wordplay. It’s playful without losing bite, swinging from sticky hooks to catchy, rewind-worthy verses like he’s daring you to keep up.
The one that hooked me was “Hungry Flows.” A woozy, hypnotic vocal chop sets the tone while La Reezy bounces between chest-out bravado and bare-all honesty. Verse two has this subtle nod and wink to Hov’s pacing—deliberate, unhurried, with that little drop-off at the end of each line that makes you lean in.
What I like most is he’s polished enough to cut through, but unpolished enough to trust. In a feed-driven era, it’s rare to hear something that feels born out of obsession instead of an algorithm. If this is the handshake, I’m already waiting on the follow-up.
Robbie Ettelson: Special Ed “Think Twice”
One minute Special Ed is guest starring as—*checks notes*—JT Freeze on The Cosby Show, and the next his arrival on stage cues every man in the audience at a Kool G Rap show in Philly (circa 2013) to beeline to the front-door for a smoke break. Guess he never really shook that teen idol image, huh?
It wasn't through lack of trying though. Despite not having released any music since 1990, Ed still had enough clout in 1994 to get drafted to the Crooklyn Dodgers and make short work of a magnificent (zing!) Q-Tip track for Spike Lee's Crooklyn. This seemed to inspire Profile Records to get behind a third album, Revelations, which was released to a fairly muted response the following year—but to be fair, the label was supportive enough to cough-up for remixes from both Buckwild (“Lyrics”) and DJ Premier (“Freaky Flow”).
While Special Ed's original musical partner, the late, great “Hitman” Howie Tee only contributed one track to Revelations, in 1997 the pair reunited to release “Think Twice” via indie label Sure Shot Recordings and Ed's Dolla Cab Ent. This song perfectly recaptures the magic of their glory days, as Ed effortlessly floats over the Brooklyn bounce of Howie's beat, a track blessed with such an addictive swing that it forces immediate head-nodding from anyone within earshot.
Footnote: The B-side of this single may have been Ed's attempt at creating his own Tragedy/Capone-N-Noreaga type of movement in BK, with a group named A.R.A.B.S. who sadly don't bother to spell-out the acronym on the song.
I had hoped that this was the first salvo in a comeback effort from the pair, but sadly they didn't release any music together until Ed's 2004 album, Still Got It Made, and by that stage the moment had passed.
Mark Grimaldi: Beach House “Gila”
I fucking love this song. Probably doesn’t hit for a lot of people. But I dig the melodramatic feels, the soaring through space riffs, the churchy organ creeping in the back, angel-like vocals, the reverbs, the echos, the sadness. Who is Gila? So mysterious. I’m high.
Tim Pellegrin: Son Little “Carbon”
Son Little is one of my favorite artists. The rebelliousness of rock, the pain of blues, and the world-weariness of soul. Plus, he’s the son of a preacher, which comes through.
It’s hard to pick one, but let’s start early. This one is off his first album and gives the raw Son energy I love.
DJ ScroScro: Tragedy Khadafi “The Rebel”
I saw a repost by IP earlier this week on Instagram for Unkut.com’s Capone-N-Noreaga compilation The Raw Report (Unkut Bootleg) which chronicles “demo mixes” from The War Report album era.
This led me down 25 To Life Highway and next thing I know I made a right turn on Tragedy Khadafi Blvd. While there, I did some research online and learned that Tragedy was featured on two songs from Marley Marl’s classic 1988 album, In Control, Volume 1. Marley Marl is one of my favorite producers of all-time, so of course I had to dive in and listen right away. Song pick of the two is called “The Rebel.”
The beat contains a classic James Brown sample “Hot Pants” (among others), and a young Tragedy Khadafi bounces lyrically over the track with an old school flow that took me back in the days to when rhyming was fresh. I also loved hearing the random shout outs towards the end of the song to various Queens-based crews and posses as this is something that gets left out of songs these days.
Some cool history as we travel back to rap beginnings from the Queensbridge housing projects and learn more about the evolution of a pioneering artist there, Tragedy Khadafi.
DJ Rhude: Sonja Blade “Look 4 Tha Name”
Back in early 2000s, I had an opportunity to freelance for a website called Hookt. It was during this time that writers of selected media outlets were invited to a music conference sponsored by Virgin Records which would give unfettered access to the artists the label was pushing. One of the music editors at Hookt Diana Simpson (aka Detox) who I was working under at that time couldn't make it, so she asked if I wanted to go instead. Of course I said, “Hell yeah!”
While I was there, one of the PR people from Virgin pulled me aside and slid me a CD of upcoming music from several of their artists (being a DJ and a writer was like a cheat code!) But one really stood out to me and her name was Sonja Blade. While previously I hadn't heard a lot of music from the Brooklyn, New York rapper, I did catch her on a few mixtape joints. She also was being pushed by the late, great DJ Clark Kent, so you had to pay attention with a certified co-sign like that.
One appearance that really stood out was a collaboration on a freestyle with Canibus on a DJ Capone mixtape from 1998. Blade more than held her own against 'Bis, who you may remember was hotter than fish grease during his run.
As I listened to the CD, which featured songs from her upcoming Virgin release, I understood why DJ Clark Kent was so high on Sonja. Boasting sharp wordplay and an impeccable flow, she seemed destined for stardom. One of my favorite songs off that CD was the DJ Premier-produced rollout single "Look 4 Tha Name." Radio picked up on the single rather quickly and it soon became a fixture on the mixshows.
Years later, I would go on to interview Ms. Blade, and she told me upon first meeting Preem he sized her up and told her, "I don't really fuck with female MCs, but I heard you was hot, so I'm going to give you a shot." Unfazed by the pressure, she was able to deliver some of her best material to date. Premier also went deep into his bag and laced her with an insane track complete with a dope beat switch midway through. Unfortunately things didn't work out with the label and Sonja eventually parted ways with them, but "Look 4 Tha Name” will remain a high-water mark in her career.
Greg Cuddy: Caloncho ft. Mon Laferte “Palmar”
This song is a classic for me. First heard in a random playlist while in Costa Rica. Caloncho is the artist. Mexican singer-songwriter. Waves crashing, sipping something cold, you know the vibes.
Chris Apo: Londrelle ft. Lalah Delia “Vibrate Higher”
Got into Londrelle back in the summer of 2022 when he dropped his Self-Heal album. His tracks feature dope melodies and chill beats as a backdrop to his conscious, ambient flow. Very chill.
Brian Duignan: Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes “The Love I Lost”
“The Love I Lost” was one of the transitional songs marking the emergence of disco from traditional rhythm and blues. It also distinguished lead vocal singer Teddy Pendergrass as a solo talent separating him from The Blue Notes group he was in.
The intro is kinda sick too.
DJ Roz: Beach Boys “Make It Big”
Beach Boys are 🔥.
Once again, shout out to the PICKS POSSE, you guys came strong for Week #2. Love seeing everyone embracing the platform like this and sharing what they’ve been listening to with such personalized and thoughtful contributions.
Hope you all enjoyed this as much as I did! Back at ya tomorrow with more. One.
25 To Life Highway > Route 66.