Believe in Me Vol. 1
TURN ALL THE WAY UP!!!
In 2011, I was exposed to the world of Underground Hip-Hop. It was not like the boys in the cafeteria rapping during lunch. It was something different, a movement. I get excited watching people I have met through out the last few years release albums and EPs. I am happy to watch them grow and make connections. Not everyone is radio ready but I am able to admire their drive and willingness to bare their souls to the world.
While I was a co-host on “The DourHour” show, I had a chance to listen to a rapper from Amityville. The first thing I noticed was his voice. It touched me. In an industry built on people using their voices as an instrument this is important. I am a woman; one of the fastest ways to a woman’s heart is through her ears. We are communicators. While we are all unique, certain sounds and voices will have a much more powerful effect over us than others. Pillzbury had a powerful effect on me.
It’s been exactly one year from the first time I have heard one of his songs. Through that time I have been in dialogue with him about his music. He sends me tracks and it’s pretty cool because; I get to hear it before everyone else. Although Pillz is an unsigned artist, just imagine being able to listen to some of Jay-z’s early music before it was ever put on the radio, because he really wanted YOUR honest opinion.
Recently, I was asked to review Pilz latest album, “Believe in Me Vol 1”. I even had the pleasure of having a conversation with his producer, Matches Malone. Unlike some of the artist music I get to review, I have a chance to ask what inspired this beat or this verse. I get to see how Pillz and Matches’ mind’s work. This brings me to the first track worth noting “Trouble”.
“Trouble” is an amazing track. It features one of the best rappers from New York Jadakiss. I asked Matches was this a song where Jadakiss had released a verse and he added it to Pillz song. I was told very arrogantly, (with every right to be proud and arrogant) that no Jadakiss and Pillz made this together. He also informed me that if they are featuring an artist who is already signed, that they worked together on the collaboration. Pretty cool stuff. Enough of the background and now to the song, “Trouble” reminds me of the hip-hop of old, the music that used to come air Hot 97. It made me feel like a New Yorker. It reminded of when Fabolous released “Breathe”. You could not help but to feel the rawness and creativity of “Breathe”. Trouble is very similar in that regard. I was excited when I listened to it. I even played it for my boyfriend, who also agreed that it was like real Hip-Hop. It was not that corporate manufactured cookie-cutter crap, but something with substance.
Pillz holds his own next to the great Jadakiss. They way they sounded on the track was great. It reminded me of how strong Kanye came on Lil Wayne’s song Lollipop or Nikki Minaj’s verse on Monster. When you’re in the studio with people that are revered in the community you have to use your instrument, on a Beethoven like level. You have to come to the ring like Mayweather, prepared to shine at all cost. Pillz does exactly that on the track, he shines!
Another track worth noting is “Fire” ft another Long Island native Nam Nitty. Now I know Nam to be a pretty hilarious guy. This was my first time being exposed to his music. The collaboration is just like its namesake Fire. Pillz and Nam are letting every rapper know, that they GO IN….Not JUST The Tip…But… All The Way IN!
The album title track “Believe in Me” is nuts. His flow is smooth as silk on this track. He wants his listeners to know who he is and to have faith in him, he may have come from hard neighborhood, but he is going to make it. No matter what, he might make mistakes but as long he and his followers believe in him, he will come out on top.
The beats on this album are crazy. Matches did his thing with this one. I can tell that he really cares about every single beat that he gives to Pillz. Matches revealed to me that when he creates a beat, each one have its own unique story or emotion that it is pulled from. He may even advise Pillz to come up with a story based on that beats emotionality.
While I made mention of my 3 favorite tracks, this 8 track album is hot from the intro to the very last song. It’s definitely worth bumping from my Bose System on a long drive. Like Pillz says, “hooking up with Matches was not no luck” I have to say, I want to turn this album all the way up!!! That’s all for now. Keep your eyes open for this album release; it will be well worth it!
Sam Law
In the age of trap beats, simple lyrics and hooks Long Island Artist “PillzBury” attacks the game with a breathe of fresh air with his newest release “Believe In Me”. Hailing from Amityville, New York the mixtape immediately begins with a classic New York movie skit accompanied by MPC 2000 kicks and classic soul samples. A 90’s style hip hop influence can be felt throughout the entire project which should delight true hip hop fans nationwide. Accompanied by a classic verse from from Jadakiss on the track “Trouble”, this project has more of an album feel as oppose to a standard mixtape which a plus for fans seeking to hear original, fresh content from an up coming MC.PillzBury is no slouch on the mic either! Showcasing his lyrical ability on tracks like “Fire” & “Believe In Me” while displaying content on tracks like “Eyes Wide Open” & “Patiently Waiting”. An extra plus is having only 9 tracks on this project. Instead of over saturating a project with 172,293,627 song like most artist do, he keeps it effective and straight to the point with a shorter track effort allowing fans to get a better glimpse of his catalog. You can preview this project in the music section! http://igetatem.com/pillzbury-believe-in-me-mixtape-review/