S.X.3H.W.A #4 "Along Came iiickyb0iii"
When I usually write a “Stuff Someone Should Have Written About” installment, it usually means I should’ve written about it. “Along Came IiickybOiii” is quite a party I missed. The vivacious duo consists of Prizzy Icky and g00db0iii, the latter of which doubles as a graphic designer that has been contracted by a growing number of Twin Cities artists for album art.
Iiickyb0iii assembles a unique sound that I can only describe as “Futuristic Noir Southern-style Trap.” Trunk-rattling bass licks and spasmodic hi-hats coupled with the sinister, but pearlescent synth hits sound like they’re from decades past this. Both g00db0iii and Prizzy Icky bring a unique voice that compliments the chaotically clean instrumentation.
Prizzy Icky flaunts an audacious, iron-heavy rasp that demands its own niche in the overall sound. The best way I can describe g00db0ii’s vocals is that if Mike D from the Beastie Boys and Zack de la Rocha from Rage Against the Machine voices had a baby. Sitting in a crisp upper octave, g00db0iii’s voice contrasts Prizzy Icky’s deep rasp and the instrumentation’s heavy bass while blending with the higher frequencies of sound.
But as Prizzy Icky and g00db0iii’s voices contrast, their chemistry compliments. Each member trades blow-for-blow in the realm of single verses. Sharing a 16 and feeding off each other’s bars is a pertinent formula concocted throughout the project adding dynamics, as well as cohesion.
Tracklist for “Along Came iiickyb0iii”
“Peter Piper picked a pickled pepper/
And put the pepper in his eye/
But I put the biscuit to his Triscuit/
Cause Peter was a snitch/
SO PETER GOTTA DIE”
The iiintro gives us busy instrumentation with a charming beatbox spitting and clacking. The duo summons the help of Twin Cities legend Carnage the Executioner to ring in the project with a rousing note.
“Live from the Bullpen” is noteworthy because the vocals were recorded live on stage all in one take. The back and forth along with the chant “it’s iiickyb0iii” provide a live feel to it as you can hear the mic quality and the unbridled energy both Prizzy and g00db0iii exhibit as they trade off bars over the chants.
The next 4 tracks progress into the predominant sound of the project. The quintessential track to this progression has to be “Blur,” which is one of my favorite’s on the project. This track feels as if you just committed a carjacking in CyberPunk 2077. The futuristic synths undercut a consistent bass, with a kick that provides an extensive bounce, which g00db0iii rides impeccably.
If there was an instrumental to embody Prizzy Icky’s sound, “Coffee” does that to a tee. The ferocious, distorted bass pairs with Icky’s deep rasp. As you can guess, Icky takes the first shift in the track delivering slick metaphors like:
“See I don’t like violence/
But like an island/
Sometimes, it can be the only resort.”
“Trapped” comes in at the shortest track, but still packs a punch. Featuring B&E heavyweight Walrus the Human, the three emcees each relay a short verse over dark, ominous wind chimes. “Ppk” is on the calm side compared to the rest of “Along came Iiickyb0iii.” The Paisley Park Knights protect Paisley Park and the rest of Minnesota with their valiant swords and over-sized timbs.
WIth another future-inspired sound in the penultimate track of the album, more dirty-low bass encompasses the beat as iiickyb0iii continues their main formula in the track “Fight,” but that leads to their best track of the project.
“This is for Us” is the anthem. Commenting on, not only the police brutality of the last summer but also just systematic racism throughout America’s pockmarked history. Both Icky and g000db0iii mention and shout out historical figures as well as moments throughout the track.
The absolute passion from the iiickyb0iii and the instrumental is contagious as it compels you to throw a fist in the air and scream “Fuck 12” with pride. Both emcees come with plenty of heavy-hitting lyrics in the track.
“You just ran a Twitter rant, really?
That’s great/
Me and my boo got chased by a tank.”
Not only do I think that this line is hilarious, but it also has a great amount of truth to it. During the protests and the unrest, it was hard not to find someone on social media spewing incompetent opinions based only on biased news coverage. To really understand what happened last summer, one must have experienced it first hand. To be a first-hand witness is to witness history.
“Fuck 12 as I’m sparking my blunt and I pass/
I’m not my ancestors/
I will whip your fucking ass.”
I have heard a lot of songs dedicated to the revolution and out of all of them, this one packs one of the biggest punches. This Is for Us has to come in as my absolute favorite.
”Along came iiickyb0iii” released on November 17th of last year, and as I’m writing this at the start of March, I’m kicking myself for not coming across this sooner. The sheer energy Prizzy Icky and g00db0iii share and feed off of each other is insurmountable. I know for a fact if we have live shows again, you will see me in front row at the next iiickyb0iii set.
Listen to “Along Came iiickyb0iii” on Spotify or wherever you stream music.
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Review by: Paul Thorson, Hip-Hop Writer @PaulyT03
Edited by: Andrew Perrizo, Owner @PlaylistTC
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