Roc Marciano | ‘Marciology’ Album Review

Roc Marciano has constructed his personal world. The Lengthy Island legend loosely operates within the underground, however he doesn’t actively rep affiliation with any East Coast staples that rule the impartial panorama. Quite, he formed the scene they now function in from the shadows, becoming a member of Griselda and Mach-Hommy in pricing vinyl based mostly on what they thought it value, not what the buyer was used to. This was again within the mid-2010s. Since then, Roc has created a persistently stellar physique of labor. The rollouts eschew flash as a result of the music is dazzling.

His instrumentals are diamond-sharp and neo-noir bleak, whereas his rhymes are as tight as a rubber band ball. The final mission he put out was 2023’s Nothing Greater Than the Program, the superlative shit-talking tremendous cruise with Jay Worthy. The title rings true. For those who’re gonna rock with Roc, you’re gonna play by his guidelines. If ever there was a Warmth Tradition in rap music, it could be the Marci Technique.

On his new LP, Marciology, he outlines his working philosophy, up to date for 2024. The principles have modified, and Marci has tailored accordingly. For those who goal on the king, you higher not miss. Marci dodged the bullet, and now he’s making shooters all over the place pay the value.

Roc handles nearly all of manufacturing on Marciology himself, which permits the album to work on two ranges. Bar for bar, nobody blends extravagance with economic system like he does, parceling out morsels of brags that recommend generational wealth, feeding simply sufficient at a time to maintain ’em hooked and wanting extra. The cohesiveness that happens throughout the album favors it as a physique of labor fairly than a set of particular person songs. Standout moments abound, however particular person highlights are typically deemphasized in favor of presenting one thing that strikes as a single organism from starting to finish. With that stated, although, there are nonetheless loads of songs which can be completely stellar.

On the self-titled opener, Roc cooks up a beat that creeps together with horror-movie synths and drums that disobey the tenets of conventional rhythm. This sense of unease permits Marci to create a way of foreboding on the observe, a foreshadowing for the album to come back. He raps: “Ay, all the pieces on me model identify/ However you hardly ever see any model names on me anyway.” When Marci is this system, something exterior of himself is secondary. Amidst namedropping Nate Dogg and Warren G, Ricki Lake, Dr. Hook‘s Dennis and Ray, Lil Wayne, Caine and Abel, and some others, Roc drops a delicate bar that provides perception into his mindset on the album.

“Breakin’ these hoes, makin’ performs, n-ggas gon’ hate to the grave/ N-ggas gon’ hate to the, uh, n-ggas gon’ hate to the,” he spits, dismayed a lot by these unable to look previous petty jealousy and envy that he can’t even get himself to mutter ‘grave’ after the primary point out. Everlasting consolation is an excessive amount of for these cowards. All through Marciology, the MC is confused as to how anybody on Earth can’t fuck with him with unwavering devotion — and he type of has a degree.

The vendetta-driven tracks nonetheless provide loads of quotable bars that replicate Marci’s unwavering devotion to shit speaking. He’s acquired extra money, higher style, flyer ladies. Some dudes simply have it made. On “Unhealthy JuJu” with Larry June, he raps: “My face alone calls for that you simply pay me good-looking,” earlier than detailing that his mink coats contact his ankles when he stands up. He makes residing in a one-bedroom house in Manhattan sound like probably the most shameful purgatory conceivable. He concludes: “I don’t sleep on cotton, bitch.”

Roc saves the funkiest beat for the grand finale, cuing up skittering hi-hats and delirious synth runs on “Floxxx.” The MC showcases one in every of his most fiery flows on the mission, dancing across the playful run of melodies produced within the beat. It’s largely an excuse for Marci to vibe out, tossing out one-liners till the beat runs out, however so far as palette cleansers go, it does the job. It’s not probably the most environment friendly use of house in Marciland, however then once more, Roc has by no means been about getting issues achieved in any explicit manner.

His our bodies of labor are as a lot experiences as they’re albums, a day within the life take a look at one in every of New York’s finest artists. He’s acquired the soul of an OG, however would by no means let his expertise date him — evolve or die. On Marciology, he dazzles for 45 straight minutes, whether or not he’s speaking in regards to the Bible or somebody’s aunt he went to mattress with. Intellectual and lowbrow are one. The philosophy is denser than Hegel however may be summed up as such: Marci simply has it.

RELEASE DATE: March 29, 2024

RECORD LABEL: Pimpire Data/Marci Enterprises

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