Also known by the moniker Lord Ezec, Danny Diablo’s emergence as an underground icon stemmed from his presence in Crown of Thornz, and later with Skarhead. But Diablo was never a one-genre type of guy, nor is the landscape of the rough New York element he grew up in. Diablo has now put together Thugcore 4 Life on West Coast stoner, skate rat haven label Suburban Noize. This is a joint venture of East and West Coast vibes, in a rocking, rapping symposium.
Diablo’s Rolodex of underground pals rivals the diversity of his colliding musical realms. Many of these associates and friends make appearances throughout the album, thus adding even more varied tastes and styles into the mix. From production input by Rancid’s Tim Armstrong and Hatebreed’s Jamey Jasta to rhyme-spitting mayhem courtesy of death rapper Necro and the Kottonmouth King’s Daddy X – this album spans the gamut of extreme and outlying musical landscapes.
Still pondering the hardcore meets hip-hop? It’s a concept not all that unusual really; especially considering that metal and rap joined quite successfully in the late nineties. What’s unique about Thugcore 4 Life however is the design of track play. Unlike the nu-metal era of rap and rock meshing within a song, each track on this album flows as an individual, stand-alone chapter. Essentially, a heavy guitar-laden track would be followed by a street-wise hip-hop thumper, and so on.
The album begins on a brazen metallic note with Diablo’s gruff vocal rampage on “We Don’t Care”, which is flanked by the DJ Lethal engineered “Banged Out”. Again, this sequence is maintained consistently until the record’s conclusion.
A few tracks in particular deserve special consideration. “I’m a Shotblocker” which features members of the Shotblocker group (hence the title), contains some of the most catchy, well-written, lyrical spitting this side of mainstream’s underbelly. “Livin by the Gun” carries a funky, quasi island sound, yet laced with heavy undertones. “Satanic Shamrocks” however is the most bold and memorable track overall. Clever, abrasive and heavy hitting in rhythm and vocals, plus its simply a cool as all hell type of jam. Joined by Skinhead Rob of The Transplants, and three members of hip-hop’s new “supergroup” La Coka Nostra (Danny Boy, Slaine and Big Left), this is a genuine banger to win over even the most defiant metalhead to the hip-hop side.
Consider Thugcore 4 Life similar to the popular urban promotional tool known as the “mixtape” – only this is far more refined. Diablo doesn’t simply rely on a bunch of other “names” to carry to weight. Rather, he incorporates many voices and production masters to further exemplify what the sound of the street is like for many. It pretends to be nothing but what it is – a collage of streetwise styles, because no single musical category can fully encompass the “thug” all by itself. Thugcore 4 Life is eclectic no doubt, yet always maintains that grimy sensibility from beginning to end.
For more info www.suburbannoizerecords.com
