Gangrene, Vodka & Ayahuasca
With their latest full-length offering, Vodka & Ayahuasca, rapping and producing duo The Alchemist and Oh No get psychedelic…
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Gangrene, the producer/rapper duo consisting of boom-bap sample wizard The Alchemist and underground favorite Oh No isn’t going anywhere. What started off looking like a one-off project (their 2010 debut, Gutter Water), has turned into a full on group. Last year, the two added underground rhyme slinger Roc Marciano to the team and formed Greneberg, releasing an excellent self-titled EP. Yet this time around, Double G seems to have overstayed their welcome.
Sure, the beats still bang—leaning towards a psychedelic, guitar heavy sound here—but the rhymes are lacking to the point of being almost unnecessary. Guest turns from Marciano on “Drink Up,” Kool G. Rap on “Gladiator Shit,” and Prodigy on “Dump Trunk” are more then welcome, but the majority of the raps are unfortunately provided by ALC and Dr. No: two artists more known for getting busy behind the boards than on the mic.
At the same time, there is a lot to appreciate on Vokda & Ayahuasca—a loose concept album about getting super stoned off this trippy concoction (ayahuasca is a hallucinogenic drink created from a vine of the same name). Everything from the distorted cover art (an ode to the black light posters of the 1960s), to the amazing video treatments by director Jason Goldwatch, to the bugged out vocal samples relating to ayahuasca makes the total package more exciting.
Now if they could just release an instrumental version of the album. —Jesse Gissen (@JesseXXL)
Bit of a contradictory review you say that it is a great concept album but give the originality an L????? Keep youre opinion consistent dude!!
even if they are mainly producers these guys spit harder than these idiots like rick ross, wayne, all of ymcmb, and that bitch 2 chainz who sucks hard and u give them all xl ratings but the good music gets an L i only listened to the single and can tell u guys are ignorant bullshit reviewers
Agree with this X 1000
ghehe illuminati logo =)
This reviewer is out his damn mind… Gangrene is on some Jean Luc Godard shit, reinventing and reintroducing straight spittin into hiphop….DOPE ALBUM a XL at the Least!!!
Nah, an L is fitting, the only thing that could be truer is an XL for originality, but the lyrics are not as onpoint as XL material.
Find what makes you howl and explode with ecstasy. Rise your levels to the tip and then back off to let your body enjoy itself releasing it’s energy
I thought the album was decent. The production is clearly there and I can appreciate the different vibe. As always anything with ALC seems to shine in that department. However, I do agree with Jesse on the lyrics standpoint. The tracks including the features appeared to be the stand out songs. My favorite has to be black shades with Evidence who as always delivers a dope verse. Still, I wouldn’t give the lyrics a M. Though alchemist is not the best rapper he’s clearly gotten better and holds his own on the tracks. A Large would have been more appropriate. Overall, I thought the album was refreshing and the boom bap keeps the project in current rotation.
Edit: “Dark Shades”. Also, I agree with the comment above about the originality deserving a higher class. Vodka & Ayahuasca stands out in that regards as well. That needed an XL.
shoudlve been
Beats: XL
Lyrics: L (M is definitely way too harsh)
Originality: XL (come on, what else out there right now sounds like this? rap over psychedelic rock? basically nothing)
funny if you consider this production “psychedelic rock
This review comes off as a “tryhard” imho. An “M” for the lyrics? Get the fuck outta here! Most of these mainstream “rappers” today deserve “M”s lyrically when you really look @ it. Beats & hooks run all of the mainsteam, not lyrical content, so go back & change the ratings you gave to Rick Ross, Big Sean etc. I’ve heard WAAAAYYY worse emcees that ya’ll gave better ratings to. You mean to tell me that Alchemist & Oh No are only one notch above Soulja Boy in the lyrics department?! ONE yourselves!