On Dec. 9, Shinobi Stalin X Tek the Intern release Scumbag Jazz: An Exercise in Spontaneity. Unsurprisingly, both MC and producer validate their respective street cred here. The talented and tasteful Tek lays the foundation with sculpted production of punch and atmosphere. Meanwhile, the gifted and confident Shinobi Stalin drops bars that are crackling and articulate.
The true alchemy of An Exercise in Spontaneity, however, is the gestalt that happens between them. More than just a tabula rasa of hot beats, the intelligence of Tek’s instrumental design is its seemingly tailored fit to Shinobi’s cadences, providing jazzy aura, boom-bap punctuation and, most importantly, perfect spacing for the rapper to shine. Within those pockets, Shinobi bobs and weaves with the kind of classic East Coast swagger that comes through precision and technique. The result is an intuitive synergy that’s greater than the sum of its parts and is hip-hop poetry in motion. More than just associates, Shinobi Stalin and Tek the Intern prove here to be a beautifully deadly combo.
Although Scumbag Jazz: An Exercise in Spontaneity doesn’t drop until Dec. 9, Orlando will get a live advance peek this week at the album release show (7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, Conduit, $10). It’ll be a star-studded cavalcade that features live performances by not just Shinobi and Tek but also WordChemist and Beanies & Snapbacks (Soy Is Real and Knaladeus). There will also be a beat cypher featuring Millatron, King Karlow, Terse, My Good Phelo, Silencio, Gonzi Supreme and Art West. DJ Sureshot spins and 200 Records a Day hosts.
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This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2024.
