Friday, 30 July 2010 19:51

Locksmith, Richmond California's best lyricist (maybe California's best) dropped his "Rare Form EP" with long time producer/label mate E-A-Ski in late 2009. Locksmith first hit the scene on MTV nation wide Battle Rap contest, but lost in the last round to Reign Man. When he got back to the bay he got on his hustle with fellow Richmond artist Left and started the group THE FRONTLINE. The Frontline has put out three albums "Who R You", "Now U know", and "Lock & Left". Each album has progressed greatly from the last both lyrically and musically. "Rare Form EP" is Locksmith's first venture into the solo arena, giving us just a taste of what is to come.
With only four tracks "Rare Form" is a standard EP but each track is fire starting with Therapeutic. For Therapeutic E-A-Ski lays a beat with a violin back drop with a heaving hitting boom base beat sprinkled with some high key piano hits. His beats are hard hitting and deep, giving you layer after layer of sound, really a wall of sound from a hip hop producer. Locksmith does not hold back on speaking his mind on Therapeutic starting his rhyme by declaring that he never believed Clinton, not even Obama, and Condaliza Rice. In late 2009 even in 2010 most rappers don't oppose Obama, I have only heard one other rapper hate on Obama that being KRS-ONE. Therapeutic is a track where Locksmith can get the shit off his chest, claiming that hyphy music was a gimmick, that most bay rappers are riding off 40's dick, and that too many people cant relate to his lyrics because he uses "big" words. Therapeutic is a great opener for "Rare Form" its lyrical content and rhyme scheme grabs you by the neck and makes you say damn!
Next we have the track Toss Up another E-A-Ski track that is the closest thing to a club banger that we get on "Rare Form". Don't get fooled this is not a hyphy, or even a club song that you will hear at the spot on a Saturday night. Locksmith makes this apparent when he says he could "sing this song in auto-tune, but hes not that desperate". Even though "Rare Form" has serious tones to it, Locksmith and E-A-Ski are not afraid to make a party track note previous songs by the Frontline, Bang It, Its Going Down, and What is it. Through his lyrics Locksmith makes Toss Up the anti party song but, this is where the genius comes in when you first hear the beat and opening lines you might just pass it off as an attempt to knock out a radio friendly hit this is not the case. A club banger beat, that most rappers would rap about bitches and drinking over yet, Lock raps about staying home. Genius.
Rare Form is the title track off the "Rare Form EP" and the first single. E-A-Ski and Lock seem to work best together on this track, with Lock feeding his lyrical content off the smooth, brooding, and base heavy beat that Ski has crafted. Locksmith's approach and rhyming on this track might you remind you off a battle rapper, even though Lock isn't battling any specific rapper he seems to be battling the whole system. He takes on a whole range of issues from Kanye West's sexuality, to problems with our college system. Rare Form is a verbal assault on the ears. Rare Form declares Locksmith as the top lyricist in Northern California, and probably on the whole West Coast. I always pick one track to have you go listen to if your not sure about the artist or the album, this would definitely be it. CHECK IT OUT!
"Rare Form EP" ends with the track I.M.G.M.I. a slow building album closer. E-A-Ski starts off the track with a slow guitar rift, he then quickly adds a building drum pattern which climaxes with a crashing drum roll and heavy dose of synthesizer. Locksmith takes an introspective third person look at the opening of the song describing the stress and how he wants to yell "Fuck the Bay" because of all the stereotypes and the way the media has portrayed him as a cocky battle rapper. Lock then goes on to attack fake rappers and the whole industry as whole. He ends the track by discrediting the statement that E-A-Ski is the Dre of the Bay, but he makes it clear that he is E-A-Ski of the game. I.M.G.M.I. is a great album ender leaving me wanting more.
"Rare Form EP" does everything it is supposed to, it gives us hard hitting raps from one of the games best lyricists, heavy hitting beats from one of the Bay's best producers, and leaves us wanting more from The Locksmith. If you have not heard of Locksmith before go out and cop The Frontline album's before you get "Rare Form", but if you are a head whose ear is tuned to fast paced difficult rhyme schemes go out and get "Rare Form". It is short but you will not be disappointed.

BY STODD

Friday, 30 July 2010 11:06

Thursday, 29 July 2010 19:48

Thursday, 29 July 2010 17:29

Wednesday, 28 July 2010 21:38