So Controller 7 quietly released this surprise album a month ago, without making much effort to let folks know who Tommy or Richie were. In a way I liked that, because when curiosity got the best of me and I streamed a bit, hearing that unforgettable voice for the first time in years rapping new material was a very pleasant shock indeed. C7 asked at the time for reviews, but as I was running short on time and had a few posts already lined up I haven't gotten the chance yet to do so. I do want to help publicize it's release however, as I'm sure there are some of you who loved Buck as much as I did and had no idea this album even existed.
Anyone who ended up hearing the phenomenal collaboration between Mestizo and Controller 7 earlier this year should have a good idea what to expect from this album as well. Warm, smooth and heavy sample based production with jazz and blues influences really gave Mestizo a chance to return to his roots, before his penchant to sing took over a lot of his releases. I've always been a big fan of his work and while his singing is not my favorite thing about him, I support his music for releases like
Couch, which are always dope and listenable.
Billy, the album Tommy and Richie (as in Terfry, aka Stinkin' Rich) made together about a guy named Billy bears some sonic similarity to
Couch and that's a very good thing.
For those of you who've been following Buck for as long as I have (early 2000's so not forever, but a long time anyway) you know he's got almost as many sounds as there are Bucks (65). From his battle rhyme beginnings as Halifax trailblazer Haslam, to his hardcore persona Stinkin' Rich, to his weirdo
Anticon affiliated
Language Arts years, to his "I don't like rap"
This Right Here Is period, to his polished and (in my opinion) slightly overproduced
20 Odd Years anniversary albums, to his full blown pop finale
Neverlove, it's no surprise that
Billy is markedly different from his last official release. Buck changes with the times, and isn't afraid to go his own way. For those familiar with his previous work, expect a
Dirt Bike Project style of songwriting with a dash of that fun loving irreverence and vocal sound found on his
Language Arts projects and the more recent
Laundromat Boogie with Hali legend Jorun Bombay.
For those not familiar with Buck 65, what we have here is full blown storytelling rap with a sense of humor, not unimpressive lyrical skill and a laid back old timey quality reminiscent of Serengeti or Open Mike. The production is flawless which isn't surprising from the multi-decade veteran producer Controller 7, consisting of diverse sampling of guitars, strings, keys and swing drums. Old school in it's way, but accessible in the now for it's simple genius and beauty.
So I'll leave it at that. If you don't already love Buck 65 I can't say what you'll think of this record, but as I would say for all of his releases, go into it prepared to laugh and enjoy it for what it is. He makes no attempt to be hard because that's simply not him, and that honesty is refreshing when you don't have enough of it in your playlist to begin with. I do love Buck 65 and always will, so I wanted to do all I could to let everyone know he may be coming back. In my opinion
Neverlove was not the album he should have gone out on (and yes I know he's continued to release tracks here and there and a new
Dirt Bike mixtape which was awesome, but as for official releases I consider it his last offering) and if he continues to display the love for music and storytelling we see here, maybe there'll be another 20 years of good old fashioned Canadian rap to enjoy from Richie (hopefully with plenty of contributions from Tommy).
Get Tommy & Richie's first full length collaboration
here at Controller 7's Bandcamp, and consider picking up the instrumentals as well, they're perfect.
