Album Review: Mic Skills | Defiant

Self-Released, 2009

[Note: Mic Skills is definitely part of my fam, and this album is littered with appearances from rappers and producers I run with, so objectivity be damned.  That said, I'm way too much of an asshole not to speak my mind, and I wouldn't give this a cosign if I didn't truly think it was tight.]

Houston rapper, and the force behind weekly hip hop showcase Mission Control, Mic Skills has finally put out his self-released debut.  Combining several different production styles and flows, the album is a collage of sounds headed up by a gifted emcee.

The album starts with three anthemic southern bangers, with double-time flows and plenty of swagger to set the stage.  From there, things get a little move varied.  Criminal is a somewhat faster, moody track that examines various viewpoints on criminality.  From there, it is a grab bag of styles and moods, from bad-ass bangers like Sick to more reflective material like the self-explanatory Autobiography.  Mic Skills’ name is pretty self-explanatory too, as he is a gifted and versatile rapper.  Even the De La Soul’esque disco jam, Roller Rink, is pulled off very naturally.  Guest emcees are all over this album, mostly coming from around Texas.  They never take shine from Mic Skills, but there are a lot of great moments.  Hero rips his verse on Sick and Ezekiel38 is nice on the laid back party track, Pure Inebriation.

For an album with so many styles of beats, this hangs together surprisingly well.  The instrumentals were mostly provided by Digi and Vango One.  Some standouts by these two include Digi’s electro-influenced bounce on Kill This Hype and Criminal, a brooding four-on-the-floor stomp by Vango One, with strings that sounded like they came out of a soap opera segue.  Alpha 2020 dropped some mellow soul for 2 Stories and Hi Stakez’ Cirque Du Soleil was a nice soulful Houston blues.  One of the best beats on the album was done by Riz, Ultimate Weapon.  It has hard-hitting drums and darkly hype strings and pianos.

Overall, there is a lot to like about this album.  It was obviously crafted painstakingly, behind the boards and in the vocal booth.  Fans of underground hip hop should definitely give this a spin, no matter what your flavor.  You’re bound to find something you like.

The album is available on CD Baby and digitally on Itunes, Rhapsody, and Amazon.  Also, check out Mic Skills on Myspace.

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