If you think of real old school hip-hop, what pops into your head? The gritty drum lines? The sample cuts? How about the beautiful, effortless flows of the lyrical titans of the golden age? Remember the days before “Supa Dupa Flow” and Lil Wayne? Back when B.I.G. and Big L were ripping mics?
We have to face facts: That generation is behind us. We can reminisce all we want but, eventually, we’re gonna run out of things to reminisce about. Even the dirtiest lyrics get played out after the thousandth time. This is why we need a revolution in hip-hop today. Everyone’s complaining that hip hop is dead but only a handful are, at the very least, attempting CPR.
The following emcee is now classified under that handful.
New Jersey lyricist Umang Khosla, known by his rap moniker of uMaNg, just dropped his sophomore album –Lasting Impressions– with the help of Swedish producer B.B.Z. Darney, and it’s pure hip-hop gold.
It’s pretty much like someone cut a hole in time and placed uMaNg right in there with the other lyrical titans of hip hop’s golden age. The intricate lyricism, the hardcore grittiness, the upfront smack-you-in-the-face lyrics, he’s the whole old school package with a new twist. Go give him a listen. You can close your eyes and the cloudy piano, beautiful sample cuts, and seamless lyricism could almost convince you that you’re back in ’94…
But you’re not. You’re in 2012, and music like this should make you happy about that.
Listen to him right here below. If you like what you hear, it only costs $8 to support the movement!
