Reks - Grey Hairs

If you haven't heard of this Lawrence, Massachusetts native than you've been sleeping and ignoring the recent meteoric rise of such Mass. hip-hop stars as Termanology and Statik Selektah. Reks has been running with Selektah and Term for some time now and rapping for even longer. Having started out his career in hip-hop as a b boy in Lawrence, Reks eventually gravitated toward the emceeing side of the artform because of his favorite childhood MC's like Krs-One, Slick Rick and Ice Cube. Reks would venture over to Boston; his state's hip-hop capital and start making big moves. He dropped his debut album "Along Came The Chosen" a short while after he dropped out of college in Amherst. His debut was a very worthy effort that was dropped on Landspeed and featured some of his own production as well as beats from his former classmates Fakts One, Soul Searchers and a very young Statik Selektah. Combined with it's strong production the album had verses from guys like Pacewon, J-Live, Shabaam Shadeeq and Young Zee amongest others. Indeed Reks had a very monumental start to things and one would've only assumed that his next projects would also provide a certain level of excellence. Reks would go on to release some street albums, but his real pride and joy should be with his 4th project and his un-official second studio album "Grey Hairs". Again with the help of his longtime friend and now executive producer Statik Selektah, Reks has completed what many are calling the best album of 2008. "Grey Hairs" provides the listener with street level enclave's of hard, decisive beats, razor sharp wordplay and an esthetic that is sorely missed in today's hip-hop scene. There's an honesty in this album that is so simplistic, yet so needed, listening to it really puts you right there where Reks came up. You almost can hear the screeching of car tires, the yelps of Spanish phrases being hollered thru the air from apartment building to apartment building, the warm cotton of a champion hoody on your back, all as the bitterly cold air of Lawrence, Massachusetts penetrates your face. This is a magnificent piece of work that should not be overlooked. The production is top notch once again as Reks employs the skills of none other than DJ Premier and Large Professor to help him convey his message. But rest assured, no Reks album would be authentc without Statik blessing it with a few of his beat concoctions as well. Reks provides the rest in the form of a very poignantly written and well delivered album that picks up right where his first one left off and then some. Coming through with a brilliant mix of highs and lows, slow, then aggressive tracks, Reks gives the listener a highly provocative mix of material. Not to mention his guest spots are all superb as well, featuring everyuone from Krumbsnatcha to Lil' Fame and Skyzoo. Don't let this LP sneak by you, it's easily one of the best of the new year and easily the best project any Boston Artist has dropped in quite some time.

-BIG D O



01. Grey Hairs
02. The One
03. Say Goodnight
04. How Can It Be
05. Stages
06. All In One (5 Mics) (feat. Lil Fame)
07. Next 2 Me
08. Money On The Ave (feat. Skyzoo)
09. Black Cream (The Negro Epidemic) (feat. Big Shug)
10. Love Sweet Misery
11. Rise
12. Telescopes (feat. John Hope & Lucky Dice)
13. Day 2
14. Premonition (feat. Termanology & Consequence)
15. My Life (feat. Paula Campell)
16. Cry Baby
17. Long While
18. Big Dreamers (Lawtown Remix) (feat. Termanology & Krumbsnatcha)
19. Isiah
20. Hidden Bonus Track

http://rapidshare.com/files/132499301/Reks-GH-08.zip