French-American presenter Napoleon da Legend releases his 28th studio album. The underground will already be familiar with him, as he’s made a lengthy discography for himself over the past decade, including Coup D’État, its sequel, Street Universe, Dragon Ball G, Sicknature Colossus of GOATS, Buckets or Invincibl Rap Mislz by DJ D-Styles. Very similar to the latter, this time we invited another Beat Junkies member DJ Rhettmatic to produce Legmatic.
After the title intro, the title track starts with a trumpet-y Bap instrumental talking about this year being better than last, while “Legendary Legacy” adds more kick and snare over some bassier trumpet melody and title . Is “Midnight Madness” a hazy piano-boom hybrid about creating your own destiny before Innocent’s “Pressure”? Put your feet roughly on your neck.
The beat of “2 Step 2 the Bank” has plenty of dusty flare, providing an anthem for those gearing up for “The King Walk” and telling everyone to open their mouths to the album, making it on the heavier Makes sense in the kicks and snares. Following the DJ D-Styles interlude, “Not Without a Heart” featuring Nejma Nefertiti finds the pair once again talking about the gasoline running through their veins on the road to war, backed by speakers, while “We Don’t Know You” concludes As dirty as Legmatic’s path to futurism was, he continued to resist instrumentally until his last day on earth.
This time last year Invincibl Rap Mislz was emerging as one of Napoleon’s best material and sure enough, Legmatic stands out as one of his strongest records in a while and is definitely one for those who haven’t kept up with him by now First choice. Everything about Invincibl Rap Mislz, from the booming Bap production to the hardcore lyricism of Napoleon, is recaptured, but Beat Junkies founding member DJ Rhettmatic takes it entirely to a whole new level.
Rating: 9/10
