Album: PEEP: The Aprocalypse
Record Label: N/A
With anticipation of backlash, I'll say that Pro Era are the most exciting thing going on in Hip Hop at the moment
As soon as anyone makes a statement that is even slightly sensational, such as the one above, they are subliminally and probably unconsciously committing themselves to a huge amount of "build 'em up and let 'em fall" type criticism from the masses. It's very fair to say that, come June of this year I might be calling another rap "the best thing to happen to Hip Hop so far this year." However, as it stands in February 2013, PRO ERA own said title, to this reviewers ears anyway.
"PEEP: The Aprocalypse" is not a life changing album. It's not a masterpiece, not in the most universal sense anyway. What it is is a showcasing of supreme talent that is devoid of any other Hip Hop clique to emerge with a clearly designed aesthetic in the last 2 years or so (Odd Future, A$ap Mob etc.). It really is something that bursts with character, flare and talent.
Every MC has their own distinguishable persona and almost every flow is lightning tongued and sharp- witted. The production is consistent in its gorgeously stoned trajectory, but also it's pulled back to the wings, as it were, so that every rapper's intelligent (and they really are) braggadocious charm falls centrefold.
There are moving moments, such as the opener "Like Water" which revolves around a stirringly profound piano melody, the tragic suicide of Capital STEEZ looming large, making it impossible not to realize what a true loss of talent said incident is. "School High" is a hilarious narrative about turning up to school stoned, whilst the romantic "Interlude 47" concludes on this brilliant assertion from Dessy Hinds: "I want to love you on a quantum level, like protons and electrons."
If "PEEP: The Aprocalypse" isn't a game changing album then it's a tantalizing monument to just how exciting and talented this young crew are. It's quite probably that their individual releases won't match up to this, but everything here from the refreshing, legitimate gang mentality to the beautiful music reeks of a bright future.
Key Tracks: Like Water, The Rennaissance, School High, Overseas
For fans of: Joey Badass, Outkast, Wu Tang Clan
9/10
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