Albums Roc Marciano & The Alchemist - The Skeleton Key (Discussion Thread)

[Whips-n-Chains]

Cryotherapy is the one that doesn't really hit the same as the rest to me.

That was one of them at first, that I thought was just too noise...too much going on all at once. It grew on me, I really like the vocal sample. But I can understand not liking it as much cuz that beat is frenetic.

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Alchemist is one of my favorite producers but this aint doing it for me, probably some of his weakest throwaway instrumentals
I only liked about 3 songs

you cant sit there and tell me Chateau Josue was dope

If I see Roc and Al together (or Roc in general) I just assume I’m not gonna hear any traditional beats. IMO Alc only has a few joints with Roc ever that sound like more traditional or straightforward beats (all for it, zig zag zig, quantum leap) but for the most part Roc makes weird beats and chooses weird Alc beats. Lots of minimalist beats or super experimental stuff. I feel like a lot of Al’s beats for Roc don’t even really sound like Al’s beats

shyt, Roc is making” “beats” like this to rap on

 

[TheDarceKnight]

Cryotherapy is the one that doesn't really hit the same as the rest to me.

Cryotherapy and Acid remain my least favorite.

Feedback on this album is interesting. I’m seeing a lot of people that like it a lot better than Elephant, and also a lot of people that like it a lot less.

Funny enough not seeing many people think they’re neck and neck.

If I could only pick one I’d pick Elephant, but I do like this one too.

 

[ReWiNd]

Alchemist is one of my favorite producers but this aint doing it for me, probably some of his weakest throwaway instrumentals
I only liked about 3 songs

you cant sit there and tell me Chateau Josue was dope

Chateau Josue and Cryotherapy are tracks that I keep coming back. The whole album is nice. Roc and Alchemist make some of the best material when they come together.

These were leftover tracks from that elephant man bone session. He said in another interview a while back him and roc had another coming with loosies from that. With that being said, this album is nice but I still think elephant man's bone is a better project and top 5 project for me from his catalog

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Chateau Josue and Cryotherapy are tracks that I keep coming back. The whole album is nice. Roc and Alchemist make some of the best material when they come together.

These were leftover tracks from that elephant man bone session. He said in another interview a while back him and roc had another coming with loosies from that. With that being said, this album is nice but I still think elephant man's bone is a better project and top 5 project for me from his catalog

Not sure how tf Rauf was a leftover b/c to me, that's as good as anything on EMB's.

 

[spliz]

Cryotherapy and Acid remain my least favorite.

Feedback on this album is interesting. I’m seeing a lot of people that like it a lot better than Elephant, and also a lot of people that like it a lot less.

Funny enough not seeing many people think they’re neck and neck.

If I could only pick one I’d pick Elephant, but I do like this one too.

Yea it's still too early for me cause Elephant is a borderline classic imo.

 

[ReWiNd]

yeah, elephant man's bones hit differently for the first time I listen to it than this album. Feels more polished and thought out. Elephant doesn't get praised but I feel like that is one of his best produced album. I like roc's production but his production on a lot of his most recent albums kinda gets boring when is handling a big bulk of the production

I hope roc and al keep collaborating, I think they have the best chemistry when they work together. Also wish we would have gotten at least one ka and roc song with alchemist production

 

[Nero Christ]

You not supposed to go ghost on the plug
Virgil Abloh throw rug
to roll you up like a fruit rollups
When I shot you, you can't Manute Bol us
You see the blowers wit the isotoners
fore I put you on ice like a diamond choker
fire from the toaster turn you jokers to fried okra
then slide the iron inside the holster
I am the culture, I can coach ya like Spoelstra
or being impulsive and cop the Rolls truck
Give you a face shot, no photo, that's a closeup (Damn)
vulgar, like a Russian soldier but much colder
You know what's up you getting fukked over for closure
Muhfukka I'm the closer

flow was nasty here

 

[TheDarceKnight]

I’m too nice to critique, you should be quiet like mice feet/
Or a thief in the night tryna sneak ice in a heist/
Type dude to steal the cubes out the ice tea/
I peep with my left eye while you creep

 

[Piff Perkins]

If I see Roc and Al together (or Roc in general) I just assume I’m not gonna hear any traditional beats. IMO Alc only has a few joints with Roc ever that sound like more traditional or straightforward beats (all for it, zig zag zig, quantum leap) but for the most part Roc makes weird beats and chooses weird Alc beats. Lots of minimalist beats or super experimental stuff. I feel like a lot of Al’s beats for Roc don’t even really sound like Al’s beats

shyt, Roc is making” “beats” like this to rap on

Yup. Alch will throw remnants of soul and r&b samples in there but it’s heavily chopped. Add in the abstract, ambience, jazz, Euro rock etc samples and it really stands out. Both Alch and (producer) Roc are constantly going forward while other people try to remake Reloaded over and over…

I’m never gonna shyt on loops or soul samples. That’s some white boy shyt always that annoys me. But if your existence boils down to imitating 00s Madlib or 2010s Alch, I’m gonna view you as regressive. And that’s what a lot of dudes have been doing ever since this wave started.

 

[pete clemenza]

It's alright. Why can't Roc Mar get hot production anymore

 

[Mortal1]

After a couple of listens I think Rauf is my favorite

 

[Peak]

Cryotherapy

 

[ℒℴѵℯJay ELECTUA]

When does the Vinyl drop?

 

[KingsOfKings]

After listening to it all week, I'm definitely happy to include this in my top 10 of the year.