Tek is a 50-year-old host from Brooklyn, New York, known as 1/2 of Smif-n-Wessun and a member of the Boot Camp Clik collective. He also has 3 solo mixtapes, 3 EPs, and even a few full-length LPs from 24KT Smoke and Pricele$$. That said: When I learned that Stu Bangas, fresh off G-Mo Skee’s new album Filth City, was working on Tek’s own fourth EP, my expectations for MVP were pretty high.
“Back Inda Days” starts off with me mixing a high-pitched vocal sample with a kick and snare that reminds me of the days when it was all fun and games, while “Hour After Hour” is this orchestral boom bap crossover that talks about How the grind never stops and what is good to have and hurt if you don’t use it. The song “Agave” keeps him dusty at 5, his Glock cocked, and the horn-driven penultimate song “BOC (Ballin’ Outta Control)” talks explanatory talk about crazy balls , but then “Big” shut down a triumphant trap joint boasting everything was huge.
Some people I know weren’t too crazy about the Teksmokeelah EP about a year and a half ago, but MVP: MotiVational Purposes is definitely a step above its predecessor and even surpassing Pricele$$ as the best thing Tek has ever done Without his partner Steele. Stu Bangas’ production is more consistent than much of Tek’s past solo work, and the latter doesn’t allow guests to take inspirational cues in a lyrical way.
Rating: 9/10
