It’s not often a collaboration album is worth the wait to me, but after checking Marco Polo and Torae’s
Double Barrel today, I was definitely pleased. After listening to the album from start to finish, I was brought back to hip hop that I fell in love with. Not the sounds that take over your radio now, full of cliche rhymes. Double Barrel is Hip Hop in it’s purest form, and if you aren’t used to that, your’e in for a treat.
The album begins with Torae spitting straight fire on the title track, Double Barrel. The production of Marco Polo on this track, like much of the album, is as impressive as the lyrics dropped on the gritty beats. Tracks like “Lifetime”, “Smoke”, and “Rah Rah” shine as unheralded gems, while “Coney Island” is the new anthem for the borough this year. Double Barrel thankfully isn’t oversaturated with a lot of guest spots, and the ones that do show up, like Masta Ace on “Hold Up” definitely add to the album’s value. For those true fans of real hip hop looking for something new to check for to start your summer, Double Barrel will exceed all expectations.
The Grade: A-
