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

[IronFist]

You can’t put gettin icey before hygiene /
Why all this YSL and Y-3 if you gotta hide ya teeth”

Bruhhhh, . Bar of the year

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

You can’t put gettin icey before hygiene /
Why all this YSL and Y-3 if you gotta hide ya teeth”

Bruhhhh, . Bar of the year

That bar describes the Roc Marci experience in a nutshell

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

So I finally listened to this about 10 minutes ago.

Okay, so judging by the cover art this is in some ways a sequel to The Elephant Man's Bones, which imo is Roc's greatest album and one of Alchemist's finest hours on the boards.

This album is the darker version of its predecessor; now I think the middle portion of the album, from Knock It Off to Skirt Steak, is the highlight. Mystery God was a nice opener and Make Sure was a great closer, I haven't listened to the bonus tracks yet since they're not available on Tidal at the moment which I suspect is due to Roc and Alc planning to release a special edition (new cover art) version of The Skeleton Key similarly to The Elephant Man's Bones which will probably feature a few additional tracks.

Overall, I think this is a great album. It's not the best of Alc's production, and I think Roc, lyrically, did his usual greatness on the mic. Some reviews I've read online think this is better than The Elephant Man's Bones and I disagree. That album had an elegant premium feel to it from top to bottom and stands out for being Roc's most mature and introspectively sounding record. This isn't better than Elephant Man's Bones, nor do I think it is better than Marciology, which is Roc's second best due to the cinematic approach. Let's just say it's one of his best, near the top 3 of his 2020s output.

My favorite tracks are Acid, Rauf, Skirt Steak, and Make Sure. My least favorite track, although I think it's a good song at the same time, is Cryotherapy, largely due to previously hearing this exact beat on either a Westside Gunn track or Rome Streetz, I can't remember, but I've heard that beat before, and was disappointed cause it felt like Alc was recycling beats.

I know some of you prefer Marci during his Marcberg, Reloaded, Rosebudd's, Marci Beaucoup, Pimpire Strikes Back, Behold A Dark Horse, etc eras. I'm more of a fan of his current 2020 era compared to the 2010s because I feel like his production and to some extent, his lyrical skills have gotten much better; the problem with his early albums is that while his beats are good, sometimes they don't sound mixed very well, and have this scratchy, bust your eardrums effect if you play it too loud.

I agree that Skeleton Key is a darker version of EMB. I do think Marciology is better, but Skelton Key is a very easy listen and I do enjoy running through it. As much as I love Reloaded and Marcberg, I agree that his production and lyricism did get better, which speaks to Roc's greatness.

 

[CM_Burns]

This sounds like all his other sh1t but is good

 

[TheDarceKnight]

 

[FlyGuy]

So I finally listened to this about 10 minutes ago.

Okay, so judging by the cover art this is in some ways a sequel to The Elephant Man's Bones, which imo is Roc's greatest album and one of Alchemist's finest hours on the boards.

This album is the darker version of its predecessor; now I think the middle portion of the album, from Knock It Off to Skirt Steak, is the highlight. Mystery God was a nice opener and Make Sure was a great closer, I haven't listened to the bonus tracks yet since they're not available on Tidal at the moment which I suspect is due to Roc and Alc planning to release a special edition (new cover art) version of The Skeleton Key similarly to The Elephant Man's Bones which will probably feature a few additional tracks.

Overall, I think this is a great album. It's not the best of Alc's production, and I think Roc, lyrically, did his usual greatness on the mic. Some reviews I've read online think this is better than The Elephant Man's Bones and I disagree. That album had an elegant premium feel to it from top to bottom and stands out for being Roc's most mature and introspectively sounding record. This isn't better than Elephant Man's Bones, nor do I think it is better than Marciology, which is Roc's second best due to the cinematic approach. Let's just say it's one of his best, near the top 3 of his 2020s output.

My favorite tracks are Acid, Rauf, Skirt Steak, and Make Sure. My least favorite track, although I think it's a good song at the same time, is Cryotherapy, largely due to previously hearing this exact beat on either a Westside Gunn track or Rome Streetz, I can't remember, but I've heard that beat before, and was disappointed cause it felt like Alc was recycling beats.

I know some of you prefer Marci during his Marcberg, Reloaded, Rosebudd's, Marci Beaucoup, Pimpire Strikes Back, Behold A Dark Horse, etc eras. I'm more of a fan of his current 2020 era compared to the 2010s because I feel like his production and to some extent, his lyrical skills have gotten much better; the problem with his early albums is that while his beats are good, sometimes they don't sound mixed very well, and have this scratchy, bust your eardrums effect if you play it too loud.

I feel like Roc has “prestiged” in the sense that he already mastered the style people want him to go back to. Now he’s basically deconstructing rap

 

[Danie84]

Step on the Ki did the Pepper Seed

 

[T.H.E. Goat]

The gold audemar is arm candy/baby doll, Satan's favorite sin of all is vanity

 

[LevelUp]

Roc Marciano / The Alchemist: The Skeleton Key

Read Dash Lewis’ review of the album.

pitchfork.com

 

[KingsOfKings]

 

[Whips-n-Chains]

Anyone want to bless ya breh with Elephant Man's Bones (Pimpire Edition) and the Alc Edition? (Theres the 4 bonus tracks, 2 on each)

 

[IronFist]

 

[IronFist]