Featured Artist: Elzhi

The rap game was in a huge slump just a few years ago, and still sorta is with songs like "Boom Boom Pow" and "I'm the Shit" still gettin loads of radio time. However, the upcoming wave of new look artists have brought originality and lyricism back into the picture. Artists like Wale, Drake, and Kid Cudi (to name a few) have given us hope that hip-hop is returning to its golden form. I have been lovin the past year or so, because everywhere I turn there is another talented artist that is introduced into my ever growing library of songs.

This time, an artist by the name of Elzhi was brought to my attention by Wes Blaze's (See our article about him) rommate...sometimes....Colin Marshall. When he came and visited good ol' Mizzou, he integrated some of his music into my library, and I greatly thank him for it. Elzhi comes out of Detroit and actually isn't new to the game, as he was a part of Slum Village while J Dilla was still around. He joined Baatin and T3 to be come a fulltime member in 2001 and worked with them on 3 of the albums. In 2004 he created the label, Libido Sounds, with Nick Speed in order to put out a mixtape of unreleased solo work, that included some collaborations with Dilla. Since then many have awaited his first solo album. He appeased his audience on August 12, 2008 when he released The Preface. This is the album that I recieved from Colin, and let me tell you, I have been very impressed. The more I listen to this guy, the better he sounds, and the more ridiculous verses I hear. I especially like "Colors" "Motown 25" and "D.E.M.O.N.S." even though almost all the songs are dope. I really need to put down some of his verses for you to truely see how talented this dude is.

This one is off of colors:
Now there's something that's dead from
Fighting over bread crumbs
Feet and head numb
It's a murder
We call it redrum
Got them boys in blue with blackjacks
Locking the new youth
That sell purples through Blackberrys
With the Bluetooth
Saw this gold digging redbone I knew
Posing in BlackTail
Another black girl lost
Inside a world of blackmail
And white collar crime
Done on the sneak tip
Different from blue collar workers
Catching the pink slip

and this one is from "D.E.M.O.N.S."
If I broke the word down in acronyms, while usin part logic
A demon could mean - destroyin every man off narcotics
Drug epidemics, measure obsession needles
Got dealers earnin money overnight
Deceitful elections, monitor our nations
While devil's effected, music out now on your stations
Dirty, explicit, material, oozin negativity
Distortin, eardrums mentally, overwhelmin nonsense
Dysfuctional, educational, malfuctions, oppressed negroes
Death, equals murder, oxygen's neglected
Drama, extreme mayhem, ownin a necklace
Diabetes enter many obese niggaz
So, dreams eventually match, ordinary nightmares
Department, eviction, management office notices
Dreadful, evolved missiles operatin nuclear
Why is this new to you?
^---If you didn't notice before the title of the song is an acronym. If you closely take a look at each sentence of this verse, you will notice why it is so filthy. He actually made almost every line an acronym of Demon, while consistently making conscious arguments of what evils we face in today's world. This is one of the most original and refreshing ways to spit I have ever seen, and it really gets me excited about him.

There is another song that he released as a single called "Deep" that is in my top 10 favorite songs right now. He goes so hard on the Black Milk produced track. (Black Milk also produced almost all of The Preface). Make sure you check that song out if nothing else. Moving on. According to a Nas forum, where some guy did an interview with him, Elzhi is set to release Elmatic a tribute mixtape to honor Nas, which should be excellent. He is aiming to have that out to the public around December. Also, look for him to come out with his sophomore album The Feed sometime within the next year. Finally, this very busy guy is currently working with Royce Da 5'9" on some collaboration. Yes, the same Royce that is in Slaughterhouse. In short terms, Elzhi is doin it real big right now, and everybody needs to get their hands some of his music as soon as possible. He is quickly becomin' of my favorite dudes on the scene right now.

TM