Detroit veteran & Bars Over BS Records founder Ty Farris releases an exclusive physical fourth EP the week before Thanksgiving. Originally going by the name T-Flame, he starred in numerous projects from the mid-2000s until the end of the decade, which is when he began releasing solo work at a prolific pace, producing 11 mixtapes, 11 full-length albums and his last 3 EPs. Standouts include the Room 39 duo and No Cosign Just Cocaine series, Malice at the Palace by Machacha and Sounds That Never Left My Soul by Graymatter. He just released Enigma with a Attitude in the summer and is back with Timing of a Tarantula.
“Gawd Mode Activated” is a drumless rap rock opener that gives you all the pain, glory and everything that comes with it, while “Trendsetter” gives off a mafia vibe, except for those trying to imitate him Beyond Man, there was talk of mixing longevity and quality when he established his monopoly. “Glass Joes” has a somber boom-bap flare expressing that his only concern now is cash flow, while the sample-driven “Venom in My Veins” tells of his vision of living in flames.
Flames Dot Malik joins Ty on piano boom bap joint “8 Eyes on the Paper” to keep a foot in the game each as they attempt to top my personal favorite “Eat What You Kill” produced by Denny LaFlare Gets paid to keep it in his basement and advises people who think they’re better than him to mix PCP in their blunts. “Top Rank,” featuring Estee Nack, actively reaffirms their status as a lyricist, while “Web of Lies” protects the fact that he refuses to be entangled in a web of deception.
“You Bleed, I Bleed,” a collaboration with Rome Streetz, reaches the final moments of “Timing of a Tarantula,” both jumping onto Apollo Brown’s low, drumless beat to let everyone know that it doesn’t even have to be this hard. Don’t ask. Why you can’t even see their star while closer “Heart of a Champion” finishes off EP 1 last show by keeping the soul sample intact and if he needs a raise he can simply email himself.
For anyone who has enjoyed Ty Farris’ previous releases of conceptual street hip-hop, there’s no doubt you’ll love Timing a Tarantula, which really might be my favorite new EP in his discography. With his imagery drawing stark comparisons to the aptly named arthropod family Theraphosidae, Holy Crime reveals himself as a future A&R force to be reckoned with in producing balanced boom bap and no-drums.
Score: 8/10
