Tek is a 50 year old MC from Brooklyn, New York notable for being 1/2 of Smif-n-Wessun & a member of the Boot Camp Clik collective. He also has 3 solo mixtapes, 3 EPs & even a couple full-length LPs under his belt in 24KT Smoke & Pricele$$ respectively. That said: My expectations for MVP: MotiVational Purposes we’re considerably high once I learned that Stu Bangas coming fresh off G-Mo Skee’s new album Filth City was fully producing the 4th EP that Tek’s put out on his own front to back.
“Back Inda Days” begins my mixing a pitched vocal sample with kicks & snares reminiscing on when everything used to be fun & games whereas “Hour After Hour” is this orchestral boom bap crossover talking about how the grind never stops & what’s good with having heart if you don’t use it. The song “Agave” keeps it dusty pullin’ up to the block at 5 with his Glock cocked & the horn-driven penultimate track “B.O.C. (Ballin’ Outta Control)” explanatorily talks about ballin’ insanely, but then “Big” closes shop with a triumphant trap joint boasting that everything’s huge.
Some heads I know weren’t too crazy about the Teksmokeelah EP nearly a year & a half ago, but MVP: MotiVational Purposes is undoubtedly a higher step above than it’s predecessor & even surpassing Pricele$$ as the best thing that Tek has ever made without his partner-in-rhyme Steele. Stu Bangas’ production is significantly more consistent than a lot of Tek’s past solo material & the latter resists overloading it with guests getting on the motivational tip lyrically.
Back in February, Ambrosia For Heads premiered Smif-n-Wessun’s “Ocean Drive” as a part of the Boot Camp Clik duo’s latest album, The All. As Heads would later learn, the Duck Down Music release was one of SnW’s best works to date. Now the Brooklyn, New Yorkers are treating fans to the visual version of the Rapsody and Musiq Soulchild-assisted cut. The video is pretty on the nose, but composed of some beautiful shots of Tek, General Steele and Musiq pushing a drop-top white BMW down the famed South Beach, Miami drag. With an LP released during a frigid winter in New York and other northern places, this is just the right kind of vibe for the beginning of swimming pool and beach season. Smif-N-Wessun Discuss Giving 25 Years Of Their All To Hip-Hop (Video) Although Rapsody and her verse are not in the video, but it takes nothing away from the track’s conceptual escape to beautiful weather and luxury living. The mood is largely made possible by a feel-good beat courtesy of The Soul Council’s Khrysis. Toward the end, the trio is stopped by law enforcement who are star struck once they find out who they have been stopped. Even as 25-year Rap O.G.’s, Smoke and Steele are not above everyday problems facing all too many. However, once everything checks out, the Brooklyn duo and Philadelphia singer pull off into the sunset. The All was released in February and features appearances from Rick Ross and Raekwon outside of those on “Ocean Drive.” It is entirely produced by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council. Outside of its streaming availability, Duck Down Records is offering “The All” bundle packs consisting of The All digital LP, vinyl, CD, hoodie, T-shirt, beanie, sticker pack and Smif-n-Wessun & Champion Sound Live From Prague digi-album.
In the mid-1990s, Smif-N-Wessun burst onto the scene brandishing two barrels locked-and-loaded with raw Rap talent. Following a breakthrough appearance on Black Moon’s seminal Enta Da Stage, the skills of Tek and Steele shimmered on their 1995 debut, Dah Shinin’. Da Beatminerz-produced album balanced vigor, street-smarts, and just the right amount of Brooklyn Soul for a display that cemented the Boot Camp Clik as a force to be reckoned with. Twenty-five years later, General Steele and Tek are still standing strong, with the stars and bars of a decorated career. The pair just released their sixth album, The All. Like their first LP, this body of work pairs the MCs with a respected production team: 9th Wonder & The Soul Council. Moreover, the 12-song effort showcases maturity and vulnerability, all while adhering to their unique brand of Hip-Hop. Featuring Raekwon, Rick Ross, and Rapsody, among others, the Bucktown USA/Duck Down Music release underpins Smif-N-Wessun’s influence on the genre. Now in their forties, Tek and Steele’s artistry is in a state of renaissance, not unlike that of JAY-Z, Royce 5’9, Pusha-T, and other peers. These artists are evolving, shedding skin, and taking listeners to new places. Less than a week ago, Ambrosia For Heads‘ Editor-in-Chief Jake Paine interviewed Smif-N-Wessun at Crown Heights’ Brooklyn Combine. Inside a space where strategic planning happens daily, Tek and General Steele reflect on their career and explain how Smif-N-Wessun reloaded with some of its best music. All can watch the full interview at AFH TV.Masta Ace, Marco Polo & Smif-n-Wessun Team Up To Salute Bucktown (Video) On “Testify,” Tek rhymes, “They say take ‘em back to Dah Shinin’ / But they don’t know the shape that my mind’s in.” At 3:45 in the interview, the two men explain where their heads are at in 2019. “I think we approached [the album] with an open mind. We had The Soul Council, that was really hands on with us. It wasn’t just dudes giving us beats. We had a guy like 9th Wonder who was like, ‘Yo, I can hear this vibe on this type of track. This vibe sounds like this.’ And it’s like, ‘Word? That’s what you hear? Aight; let’s see if we can catch that vibe right there.’ So, we was really building the tracks up,” says General Steele. The pair made two trips to North Carolina. The mornings began early, not without a stop at Biscuit World, a southern restaurant in close proximity to 9th Wonder’s studio. Many mornings, Khrysis, who produced seven of The All‘s 12 tracks, joined for these breakfasts. “We had to come with the content. We had to come with the words and the content that made sense. So, it wasn’t us just sitting there and just writing in the studio,” he admits. I get older, I don’t like writing in the studio. It feels so contrived to me. But when we was in that space, it was more of like a family space. It was an open lane to create. If you get tired of creating, you can go into the room and watch television, watch Netflix or something like that. We come back, and I’ll be in the studio, and we switch it. We pass off [rhyme] books and stuff like that. So really, like, on our own time, you know?” Smif-N-Wessun Show Boom Bap Sounds Amazing With Live Instruments (Video) After past albums with Da Beatminerz and 2011’s Monumental with Pete Rock, Tek describes the chemistry with The Soul Council. “We was all giving input. We worked with Khrysis the majority of the time hands on. So, even if he gave his input, I gave mine. Khrysis gave his. Not only 9th [Wonder], E. Jones, [Eric] G, even Ka$h [Don’t Make Beats], and Rapsody had their joints [in addition to] singing [by Heather Victoria and others]. We had a [white] board writing the names of the songs down. A lot of the titles of the songs came from the actual record we may have been talking about at the time, or whatever we were just feeling in the song. So, we write it down and we record it, and then we’ll just come up with the content of it.” Smif-N-Wessun Join Termanology On A Song That’s Rugged & Raw (Video) Later in the conversation, Smif-N-Wessun recall their time dabbling with Rawkus Records. Already in the Priority Records family, the pair worked extensively on Soundbombing and Lyricist Lounge compilations, in addition to features on Talib Kweli’s solo debut, Quality. The duo recall “Super Brooklyn,” garnering great interest. Sadly, similar to Pharoahe Monch’s “Simon Says,” a sample cease-and-desist halted a much-needed re-awakening to the group entering Y2K. By the late 1990s, Smif-N-Wessun was taking its proverbial industry lumps. A legal battle with the gun company forced a temporary name-change to Cocoa Brovaz at an inflection point. Despite time spent with Tupac Shakur, plans for a One Nation album were tragically halted with his 1996 death. Meanwhile, a fast-rising record like “Super Brooklyn” was stopped right as radio was pushing play. At 34:00, the duo was asked if they feel they have faced a harder road than most. 9th Wonder Brings Smif-n-Wessun & Rick Ross Together For A Song That’s Super Fly (Audio) Steele responds with a powerful sentiment. “Nah. Biggie and Pac [are] dead. Big L is gone. Guru is gone.” Tek interjects, “There’s always somebody who’s got it worse than you. So, the toughest battle is, as long as you breathing every day above ground is a great one.” Steele continues, “Every time we do a show, especially overseas, we always pay homage to the brothers that’s not here anymore. And that’s part of the show where we get a chance to get a breath. Imagine that. We get a breath for all of these ones that set it forth before us. The game has allowed us to perform. It could be worse. It could be worse.” 9th Wonder Closes Out An Incredible Year With More Than 40 Beats & Songs Perspective is critical, and Smif-N-Wessun are positive about a bumpy road. With a statement album newly in fans’ hands, they have reason to celebrate. Watch the full interview at AFH TV.Bundle packs for The All are also available to Heads via Duck Down Music. They include the digital album, vinyl, a CD, hoodie, t-shirt, beanie, sticker pack and Smif-N-Wessun & Champion Sound Live From Prague digital album. Photograph by Photo Rob. #BonusBeat: Smif-N-Wessun’s “Stahfallah” music video:
Following two 9th Wonder-produced records in 2018, Smif-n-Wessun is releasing their first album in nearly eight years. The All will arrive in just over one month, on February 22, 2019. The Duck Down Music release is produced entirely by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council.
Last month, General Steele and Tek premiered their “Let It Go” music video at Ambrosia For Heads. Now, they follow-up with second album single, “Testify.” The Khrysis-produced cut starts out with shades of Tek and General Steele’s past. A sequence of short shots contains parts of their 1995 classic “Bucktown” and an image of Sean Price, who the duo introduced on 1995’s Dah Shinin.’ While the past is always part of the Boot Camp Clik story, “Testify” shows that Smif-n-Wessun is a force to be reckoned with today.
During the song, Tek makes reference to Ruck’s passing and how he deals with it musically. “They say take ’em back to Dah Shinin’ / But they don’t know the shape that my mind’s in,” he raps on the song. “The game’s different now that my man’s gone / Any song I put a verse on.” The video itself is pretty straight forward with Tek and Steele trading bars at different locations in the borough that their lyrics and visuals made worldwide.
According to General Steele, The All will reflect a lot of the same topics relayed in “Testify.” “9th Wonder and The Soul Council provide the perfect backdrop for Tek and I to deliver heartfelt lyrical content,” Steele told VIBE, who premiered the video. “It’s a true tale of ups and downs, wins and losses, growth and acceptance. It speaks to the hearts and minds of all people; particularly our followers and fans of all ages and ethnicities.”
Tek and Steele’s first album since 2011’s Pete Rock-collaboration Monumental is slated to include guest appearances from Rick Ross, Raekwon, Rapsody and Musiq Soulchild, among others. Bundle packs will also be available to Heads, which will include the digital album, vinyl, a CD, hoodie, T-shirt, beanie, sticker pack and Smif-n-Wessun & Champion Sound Live From Prague digital album.
Following two 9th Wonder-produced records in 2018, Smif-n-Wessun is releasing their first album in nearly eight years. The All will arrive in just over one month, on February 22, 2019. The Duck Down Music release is produced entirely by 9th Wonder and The Soul Council.
Last month, General Steele and Tek premiered their “Let It Go” music video at Ambrosia For Heads. Now, they follow-up with second album single, “Testify.” The Khrysis-produced cut starts out with shades of Tek and General Steele’s past. A sequence of short shots contains parts of their 1995 classic “Bucktown” and an image of Sean Price, who the duo introduced on 1995’s Dah Shinin.’ While the past is always part of the Boot Camp Clik story, “Testify” shows that Smif-n-Wessun is a force to be reckoned with today.
During the song, Tek makes reference to Ruck’s passing and how he deals with it musically. “They say take ’em back to Dah Shinin’ / But they don’t know the shape that my mind’s in,” he raps on the song. “The game’s different now that my man’s gone / Any song I put a verse on.” The video itself is pretty straight forward with Tek and Steele trading bars at different locations in the borough that their lyrics and visuals made worldwide.
According to General Steele, The All will reflect a lot of the same topics relayed in “Testify.” “9th Wonder and The Soul Council provide the perfect backdrop for Tek and I to deliver heartfelt lyrical content,” Steele told VIBE, who premiered the video. “It’s a true tale of ups and downs, wins and losses, growth and acceptance. It speaks to the hearts and minds of all people; particularly our followers and fans of all ages and ethnicities.”
Tek and Steele’s first album since 2011’s Pete Rock-collaboration Monumental is slated to include guest appearances from Rick Ross, Raekwon, Rapsody and Musiq Soulchild, among others. Bundle packs will also be available to Heads, which will include the digital album, vinyl, a CD, hoodie, T-shirt, beanie, sticker pack and Smif-n-Wessun & Champion Sound Live From Prague digital album.
