One name only drew me to try out this project: The Alchemist. One of the best producers out right now has been taking over the underground lately, producing albums for artists such as Prodigy, Domo Genesis, and Action Bronson. I am pretty much always impressed with this guy's beat making skills, so I will check out nearly anything with his name on it. Does The Alchemist come through yet again on this album with Durag Dynasty? Let's get into it.
DURAG DYNASTY THEME- Damn. What a sick intro to this album. This layered, detailed beat was just perfectly made for someone to spit over. It sounds epic. Once Planet Asia starts going in, this song mysounds flawless. Tristate and Killer Ben deliver some sick verses as well. These guys immediately hit me as being very cunning lyricists. The great vocabulary, awesome wordplay and cool imagery they use makes these guys very fun to listen to. This was such a great intro and it definitely set the tone for what was to come. 9.5/10
TENDER GREENS- The Alchemist's next instrumental comes off a lot happier and upbeat than the last. This one is just so smooth and flows beautifully throughout the track. Killer Ben starts it off with some great lyricism and flow. Planet Asia and Tristate are just as dope on this track. 8.5/10
FISH MEAT (FEAT. PRODIGY) This track is the darkest one by far at this point in the album. Prodigy starts flowing nicely on it. I have always loved Prodigy's voice and he really kills it here. Planet Asia brings more energy and some nice lines, but Tristate is the best verse on this track. Some sick wordplay and delivery makes his verse my favorite. He also has a nice, distinctive, raspy voice. The minimalistic beat here really works for the rappers. 9/10
360 WAVES- This title track really does not dissapoint. A laid-back instrumental starts this off as the three MCs spit great verses. Once again, Tristate has the best verse in my opinion. Halfway through the song, Alchemist totally switches up the beat to an epic guitar instrumental and the trio spits nicely again. This was definitely a sick track, even with two different beats. 9/10
TRAILER MIX (FEAT PHIL THE AGONY)- Another sick Alchemist beat starts this track off as Tristate and Killer Ben have some seriously sick verses, some of their best on the album. Phil the Agony's verse was just okay. He just sounded a little uncomfortable on the track, and he was not nearly as good as the Dynasty here. 8.5/10
SPIRAL EVENT (FEAT. EVIDENCE)- This beat is awesome. It is super catchy and i love the change ups in it. Tristate starts this one off with another nice verse. Similar to the last track, Killer Ben follows then the guest verse. This time it's Evidence, who sounds very smooth on this beat and I enjoyed his verse. Planet Asia finishes off a very good track. 9/10
YASIR ARAFAT PRELUDE- Even though this track was very short and just a prelude, it was one minute and thirty seconds of pure excellence. The beat is just nasty and one of my favorites. The three rappers just sounds amazing on this. 10/10
YASIR ARAFAT- Another banger here, as Killer Ben starts off and delivers a great verse over a very sick, head-bopping instrumental. Planet Asia rhymes like a pro next and Tristate sounds tough as usual on his verse. Planet Asia finishes it off with a dope final verse. 9.5/10
TETRAHEDRONS ON MARS (FEAT. CHACE INFINITE)- This production was pretty laid back, but sounded really sleek as Chace Infinite delivered one of the better guest verses on the album. He had some memorable lines and I loved his delivery and voice. Killer Ben follows up with a pretty good verse. I do wish this track had at least one other member of the trio on it, though. 8.5/10
GOON CALL- A super high-energy, aggressive beat starts this off. Iman Thug just yells, but it sounds awesome and dynamic. Killer Ben then flows effortlessly on this beat, as do the other two MCs. My favorite verse had to be Planet Asia's. This was definitely a head-banging track which sounded good all the way through. 7.5/10
BIGGER U ARE THE HARDER YOU FALL (FEAT. ALCHEMIST & BIG TWINZ)- This track starts off with a pretty cool beat that just sounded like a mix of a lot of other beats on the album. Big Twinz's voice is just so awesome, and he sounds nasty on this. Unfortunately, I was not really feeling Alchemist's verse at all. I wish he stuck to the beats here. Planet Asia probably has the smoothest verse here. This one felt a little thrown together, but still a nice listen just for Big Twinz alone. 8/10
SHOOTERS- This beat was another high-energy one, and it sounded just as sick as the others. This was one of the few tracks with a hook, and I definitely enjoyed it, as it was a nice change of pace. The Dynasty killed it as usual, as all of them delivered dope verses. 8.5/10
LUXURY WHIP- This would have to be one of my favorite beats on this album, and Tristate just sounds awesome on the first verse. This track sounded smooth, polished, and just dope. They all spit hard and the track overall delivered. 9/10
FUNYUNS- Yes. This track is dope as hell and a perfect closer. The beat is probably my favorite on the album as it is head banging and sounds very old school but with a modern flair to it. It is just so nasty and Tristate is too, spitting one of his best verses here. Planet Asia follows with some awesome lines and a flawless flow. Killer Ben finishes it off with a fantastic verse with some seriously dope lyricism. This track is perfect and an absolutely sick way to end an awesome album. 10/10
360 WAVES WRAP UP
+these three are some seriously sick rappers, they all sound so nasty on the mic
+some awesome lyrics
+Alchemist brings something new on every beat here
+great song choices to start and end the album
+nice guest verses for the most part
Best: Durag Dynasty Theme, Yasir Arafat, Funyuns
Worst: Goon Call
Durag Dynasty- 360 Waves
9.6/10
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