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In the years (decades) since his nascent Atoms Family and Hangar 18 days, versatile emcee Alaska has slowed down his flow. Don’t get it deficient: It’s for our benefit, not his. We’re the ones getting lazier, not him. He’s just making sure we can hear what he’s saying rather than marveling at his breath control. His lyrics are as topical as they are personal, and how many emcees do you know who will rhyme “mercy killer” with “Percy Miller” without pausing for effect?

Beatmeister steel tipped dove has worked with everyone from bulletproof lyricists like billy woods, Mr. Muthafuckin eXquire, and R.A.P. Ferreira to the much artier Tone Tank, Pink Siifu, and Nosaj from New Kingdom. Coming fresh off his Backwoodz Studioz debut, Call Me When You’re Outside, Dove’s production here is as jazzy as it is hazy, the beats swing between ambient loops and orthodox boom-bap. He keeps it all tight while still giving Alaska plenty of room to play.

There’s something both timeless and timely about The Structural Dynamics of Flow. The blending and bending of hip-hop sounds like New York, but maybe an area you haven’t been to yet. Pack your blunderbuss and come along with us.


- Roy Christopher https://roychristopher.com

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