38 Spesh - 1995 (Album)

38 Spesh, it's in his fucking name; he's special but gritty as can be. It's like his laser has never lost focus this year, which has been monumentally prolific for the producer/MC extraordinaire. Still, it would take me far too long to go through his work this year, just classic material after classic material, collaborative efforts with the likes of Che Noir, Planet Asia, Elcamino, among many others. The man has not let his targets out of his sight, let alone go down easy & that refuses to change on the DJ Green Lantern hosted "1995", so many bloody shell cases scattered throughout.

I'm loving that more rappers seem to be rhyming over cultural classics more & more, but Spesh has always remained true to this lost art. Just peep last year's "1994", & while there are infinite lines on here that remind you just how dangerous this man is, the one lyric that sums that up is "I whoop my kid ass if he fails in class." Something about that dad strength, I can relate & it's terrifying when you're in it. Think of Henry Hill's dad when he finds out about him skipping & hanging around the "Goodfellas."

The beats he chose to slaughter on here are ridiculous, "Mo Money Mo Murda" by AZ, "Da Mystery of Chessboxin'" by the Wu, "Last Dayz" by Onyx, "Incarcerated Scarfaces by the Chef, I mean, what more could you ask for with the onslaught he delivers on here. It will undoubtedly make you go back on his entire archive, damn near half of it being released this year, as previously mentioned. This stellar offering is serving as merely an appetizer to his upcoming Christmas Day release with "Interstate 38," so keep your eyes peeled, for he has more than earned that trust & respect; he's one of the elite, point-blank, period.