Stalley "Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music"

Stalley continues to be heavily slept on, despite his affiliation with Creative Control and the likes of Damon Dash, Mos Def, and Curren$y. His music is a new age of that 90’s Mos Def and Tribe Called Quest music, mainly because of his demeanor and subject matter. His intellect level, positive and uplifting lyrics on life situations makes for that revolutionary rap. Stalley stands alone, and it seems like this is how he prefers it.

More after the jump.

“Arm raised, fist tight nigga; Militant man, say goodbye to the polite nigga,” Stalley comes as militant as a rapper can in his raps with his latest mixtape “Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music.” This tape does nothing but live up to the title the rapper labeled it, Lincoln Way being a street that Stalley grew up on. A Street where they dreamed of better days and of the cars that they saw flying by everyday with that Slapp (the terminology they used to describe a car with great bass). Not to mention the slapp that this mixtape will produce with the banging beat selection Stalley has on his sophomore tape. His apt lyrics combined with the hard hitting beats produces that Intelligent Trunk Music. Throughout the tape there is ongoing dialogue about the process of “concocting the boom”; producing that perfect amount of bass for your record. Making it clear that Stalley’s process of picking beats is very selective, he must be very involved in the production effort. LWN’s production is awesome and they definitely concocted the right amount of boom. Stalley is a classic American car fan, obvious, with the references in his lyrics and the opening track of the album, “See The Milq in My Chevy”, bringing you into the feel of the tape immediately, Intelligent Trunk Music! He has so much pride in the three numbers “330”, paying homage to his home town in Ohio with a song of that title. 

Stalley delivers that conscious rap, most noticeable on the track “Chimes of Freedumb”, the MC sounds fed up and aggressive on this track. It has a revolutionary feel, letting you know that he will no longer lay down for anything. The infectious hook sang phenomenally by Rashad almost persuades you to join this “fight” with Stalley. Rashad is also heard on "The Night" a track about going for yours, No Time For Dreaming. Along with this track other standout tracks on the mixtape include "She Hates The Bass", referencing how his love for cars conflicts with his relationship. Assassin features John Mayer so it already draws you in solely based on that, but along with Stalley's lyrics it makes for one of the top tracks on the tape. Monkey Ish, which pays homage to the late Pimp C, boasts a sample line from the legend as the hook. This track attacks the "industry buffoons", Stalley pinpoints particular things in the industry that he is bothered by.

This is a solid effort for Stalley, he more than proves that he deserves respect and a place in the game. Most of the beats are original and the structure of this tape has an album feel, it's polished and can ride smoothly without skipping a track. Show some love to the Ohio MC and download Lincoln Way Nights: Intelligent Trunk Music.