DARKO THE SUPER (PRODUCED BY STEEL TIPPED DOVE) “The Devil Defeated” (Already Dead)

I’m not gonna lie, I have the last Hell Hole Store album on my jogging playlist. So every once in a while, I hear Darko pumping through my earbuds, and that butter-smooth energetic flow kicks me into another gear. I often find myself chuckling at Darko’s wordplay. So imagine my delight when the latest Already Dead batch included the latest Darko the Super tape. IMAGINE IT!

 

I’m probably gonna upload this one too. Or, uh, wear a big chunky Walkman and play the actual tape, since, you know, this is a cassette site. (Psst: I’m not gonna do that.)

 

The Devil Defeated continues Darko’s Del/Serch storytelling saga, and this time the Philly rapper takes on the greatest enemy ever envisioned – the Devil himself. Fortunately, before we even hit bar one, we know that Devil’s going down, because Darko said so, and at this point we believe Darko. As impressive as that feat is, it’s not as impressive as the wordplay making an absolute mockery of the foibles of everyday life, ripping a new blowhole in every demonic interlude.

 

See, the Bible tells us that the Devil is behind every bad thing, like traffic and indigestion and Twilight. So that just means the battle is real, every day, all the time! That’s exhausting, but Darko can do it, Darko can take it on, always, and here with a cadre of companions led by producer Steel Tipped Dove. (Hell Hole buddy Ialive makes an appearance too!) And not only do Darko and crew take on the most malevolent forces of evil, they do it with style and swagger.

 

Or, you know, you just roll with this great tape and don’t worry about what’s going on behind the scenes. Darko’s got you covered there too.

 

https://darkothesuper.bandcamp.com/

 

https://alreadydeadtapes.bandcamp.com/

 

--Ryan

THE HELL HOLE STORE “Three the Hard Way” (Already Dead)

Yo muggles, check this magic – or don’t, since you can’t perceive it. Whatever. “Already Dead” is the first song that name checks Josh Tabbia, Bob Bucko Jr., etc., in the world, almost assuredly, and also Hogwarts, which is weird because I already had written the first sentence. I mean, REALLY weird, like I listened to “Three the Hard Way” after chugging a vial of Felix Felixis, and this is what I get. And of course, it was exactly what I needed.

Right, so, Darko the Super and iAlive return to the scene of the Hell Hole Store, that shady bodega in South Philly where dope rhymes come from. And they instigate a block party right in front of it. See, the Hell Hole Store is nothing if not a twisty, turny, hip hop institution ripping references from wherever the heck they please. And of course, since one of my favorite games when I listen to rap is “Spot the Reference,” I’m in utter bliss here. Add in old school production with great samples and I’m like Barney Gumbel with a year’s supply of beer: just hook it into my veins.

If you’re a fan of Backwoodz Studios, Hand’Solo Records, or Reservoir Sound, be sure to grip this tape ASAP, before your luck runs out. Or before MY luck runs out. We’re all in trouble then.

https://darkothesuper.bandcamp.com/

https://ialive.bandcamp.com/

https://alreadydeadtapes.bandcamp.com/

--Ryan