A couple of years ago, while visiting moovmnt.com (a music blog that I frequent), I heard about a beat project by a producer that goes by the name, fLako. I forget where he's from but his project "First Spacesh** on the Moon (Beattape)" had a profound impact on me. I've always been a fan of soulful production, especially in hip hop. Anybody that can chop samples and be able to create a work of art that conveys something that just about everybody can relate to on a personal level and still have that mandated "knock" to keep the heads nodding, well... I'm a fan. Such has been the case with fLako. Now anytime his name is mentioned, I'm checking it out; that's just how it goes in music.
Enter Versis, a young MC (and I mean, young; like in his late teens/early twenties) from the West Coast who embodies the flow and persona of someone who would've been rhyming on the East Coast in the early- to mid-90's. I don't know much about his upbringing, how he got into music and began figuring out his preference but I know that he's been able to surround himself with some extremely dope producers, from L.A. and elsewhere, and the stuff that they have created has been truly dope. A lot of us older folk that were growing up during the "golden era" of hip hop when there was so much great music being put out, typically scoff at what the younger generation has managed to do with the music. We know it's not their fault. Yes, the demand for the sound has changed (based on whose demand is the question), it's not as serious, gimmicks are now the norm, rappers are signed actors basically... ok, I get that. But when you come across a young guy who somehow embodies everything about the golden era and represents that type of thinking and preference for the now, you start thinking you've found something special. Truth is, there are more talented 'kids' out there just like this one, but the music industry would have you thinking that they're not around. That's why it is important for any individual who's passionate about music, to be proactive with searching and finding new talent, new material. Otherwise, you'll be no better than those that just turn on the radio and allow the business model for success to define what a true talent is.
I said all that and didn't get around to really saying much about Versis. It was through his use of some of fLako's instrumentals that I found out about this lyricist. Then come to find out on this album, "iLLCANDESCENT", a play on the word "incandescent" meaning "emitting light as a result of being heated", has production by two other names that I'm a big fan of... Exile and Dibia$e, both from L.A. So it's safe to say, don't sleep on the L.A. music scene. The West Coast still has a whole lot to offer for those of us that like good music. Heck, if Dilla chose to go West before it was his time to go, we can all give it a chance.
Look; I'm a say this, Versis is dope. His album is dope, the producers on his album are dope. What they've created is dope. So if you say you love good hip hop and want to find a way to bring some of that golden era sensibility to this day and age, support this youngin'...
Download Versis's "iLLCANDESCENT":
http://versis.bandcamp.com/album/illcandescent
