Roc Marciano & the Alchemist made a beautiful baby: "The Elephant Man's Bones"

[@alanthechemist]

congrats one the newborn. salute

[@professorskye]

Wow, thanks! Also thanks for the great music.

[@DiceB]

Amazing

[@nimationstation]

That's just heavy man. All respects go out to #alchemist /UncleAl one of thee greatest musicians ever and he really tapped in.

[@mattmedzzz6745]

The legend of all legends is here!!!! Thanks for all the beauty over the years.

[@rickeymickeyii4166]

Yooo Uncle Al, youza goddamn maniac 😅🙏🏾❤️🔥👏🏾

[@fentanyljones6956]

It makes me giddy to watch someone newly discover Roc Marci and fucking GET IT. Alchemist is my favorite artist in hip hop but Marci IS THE GOD of the modern hip hop renaissance

[@poloregal]

Same

[@jodyisthatyou4296]

Mach Hommy's album Dump Gawd: Hommy Edition begins with a voice mail from Roc Marciano telling him to call him back with regards to music they were working on. Also, the song Mach Marcy off of HBO is produced by Roc.

[@danieltenkorang9519]

Roc Marc is just interesting to listen to he’s so different, unique how he delivers his bars. He’s hilarious 😂

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

_Hilarious!_ 🤣

[@onouphrios]

yes, dude has a great sense of humor

[@KtotheG]

He plays his voice like an instrument.

[@Thiagoo662]

Great year for rap. Will only be better if Ka drops a new album

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Fr, I'm gonna need a Top 20 at the end of the year... 10 isn't gonna be enough. Too much greatness!

[@Jambavan.]

Yes Sir

[@poopymcpoop9945]

To early man, excellence like that better suited sparingly

[@mistahmata]

I don’t think I’m ready for another KA album he simply doesn’t miss and Descendants of Cain is a masterpiece

[@poopymcpoop9945]

@@mistahmata you listen to a martyrs reward?

[@stanleyumeh8143]

The actual song “Elephant Man’s Bones” is the song for me I can’t get enough of! It’s something about the piano and his voice *Goosebumps*

[@juansakura2868]

great song

[@leroyregis8049]

Facts

[@drinkwater3453]

my aura and essence is fluorescent

[@traplover6357]

1 hour for Roc Marci 🔥. Underground drumless NY scene during the 2010s wouldn't be without Roc Marci.

[@noephotos_LA]

The album is the gift that keeps on giving. The transition from the rakim voice at the end of “deja vu” bleeding into “quantum leap” is everything

[@leroyregis8049]

Facts

[@matthewatdefiantlegends7629]

Thank you! I have been trying to figure out who’s voice that was lol

[@leroyregis8049]

@@matthewatdefiantlegends7629 man I've been listening to this album every day since its release in my opinion it's album of the year

[@BillykOTW]

I’m so happy other people love this as much as I do

[@bygonewaves]

Quantum Leap is the joint that's stuck in my head.

[@leroyregis8049]

The rakim sample is crazy

[@danieltenkorang9519]

Alchemist is just amazing.

[@adamskorupskas2184]

Jumpin jack flash is the jam

[@HRDRZ]

Congratulations on your new baby girl 🎉🎊🎁🎀

[@matthewallen2247]

Quantum Leap is my standout track!

[@leroyregis8049]

Congratulations

[@leroyregis8049]

The cover is made of gemstones the concept of the album is roc Marciano dropping gems

[@andyby]

You should check out the music videos they drop for these projects. Especially the ones directed by Jason Goldwatch are extremely cool! There's one for The Horns of Abraxas.

[@juicegawwd504]

i knew it!!! the way you was describing it before you said the name.. i was like he has gotta be talking about Daddy Kane... 💪🏽💪🏽💯

[@othellochandler4958]

Pretty sure that was Barry White talking on Deja Vu.

[@alexkaiser5622]

Congrats on the baby! The first rap song I really remember getting stuck in my head that I just played over and over was Pinto By Boldy James and...The Alchemist.

[@ItsKoseph]

I love this album but I'm Completely obsessed with the closer "Think Big". It's just so beautiful to me fr I just started crying immediately after my first time listening. Been playing it on repeat since it came out I have no clue what it is about it that has me coming back to it constantly but I love every single part of it. Roc is juss spittin straight gospel on that track w not a single wasted bar n then Alc drops one of the most angelic beats I've ever heard with fuckin seagull noises (???) in the background i fr feel myself floating off the ground when i hear it lmao. Love the review, thank you Prof.

[@DiceB]

You are totally right Jay always talked about his losses he just telling you he learned from them from the first album Reasonable doubt

[@DJKBladeAKAGM]

I think “Think Big” is one of the standouts as well it make me believe that imagination is catalyst for dreams, needing one another to grow and be. “I’m channeling BIG without a spiritual medium.” RIH Big Poppa Yeah I see why Jay be giving him flowers

[@Tonka5x23]

If you bought the album then the closer would be “Momma Love” which is one of the best on the Album. That and “Macaroni” are 2 extra songs but only if you paid 40 for the original release.

[@fentanyljones6956]

It’s the perfect last song, it doesn’t allow me to not restart the album immediately. I haven’t heard the 2 bonus tracks since the official drop.

[@elib9186]

This is my favorite song on the album to

[@msimelelo1290]

August 2022 has been amazing for you, not only did you finally get into Black Thought and Roc Marciano, you also got a new daughter. Congrats!

[@TheRickshawArmy]

Zig Zag Zig was the song for me from this album. Likewise Francois from Tecmo Bo, Flour City 3 from 7 Shots

[@clammyclaude]

Zig zag zig is so hard

[@thecreamofthecrop2694]

Congratulations on the new addition to your family beloved!!!!

[@rdenn_shapes]

Dragon did leopard from action is reference to kung fu animal styles

[@armonkoucheki1064]

Rubber hand grip has been that ear worm track for me

[@Jashmenall]

His last album Mt. Marci is also a great listen, some of the songs may even catch you off guard with how weird and dark they sound.

[@rainman415]

I agree, might be his most experimental album. I also thought Roc's pen was sharper on Mt. Marci. I did really enjoy the new album though. Reloaded is still his cinematic complete masterpiece.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

I still gotta listen to "Covid Cough" with ScHoolboy (who's a personal favorite) every now and then... that whole album's dope!

[@TheKeskorian]

These reviews would be perfect if they were available as a podcast!

[@147mastery9]

Agreed. This album is great. Alchemist is so consistent... Great album. Congratulations with your daughter!

[@chattop]

I always look out for Roc Marci's music in youtube, never thought someone will review his album like this. Thank you.

[@RSVaughan33]

Daddy Kane is one of the best beats I’ve ever heard I think

[@xandertolias4206]

Congratulations on your new child professor! I'm also very glad that you liked the album, some other yt critic gave it a light 6..

[@amnqetu_Cipher-da-Builder]

Eagle vs snake are shaolin kung fu references. He uses the laugh from the Guillotines Raekwon track.

[@brieclarke]

Congrats on the arrival of your kiddo 💜

[@eric3483]

I had the same reaction to Daddy Kane. I think I replayed it at least 5 times before going on to track 3.

[@JohnCulpry]

That’s Rakim at the end of “Deja Vu” if you listen closely you can hear him hum the “Know the Ledge” bass and it’s a nod to the sample on the next track.. if you know Rakim’s catalog.

[@leroyregis8049]

That was perfection by the alchemist that track blew my mind

[@EWeis33]

Thanks for reviewing this. Happy you got a chance to appreciate Roc Marci. Congrats on your new child! We live in a golden age of human creativity and these 2 guys (Roc and Alc) are at the tip of the spear for hip hop Even if you don't have time to review it, make sure you check out Meyhem Lauren and Daringer project. Its great

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

I absolutely love that Meyhem Lauren & Daringer album, _Black Vladimir!_ Great album. Definitely check it out, Professor!

[@Coltrane360]

The best song on the album is "Momma Love" the last song on the deluxe version ALC does end the album with one of his best beats check it out since didn't hear it mentioned in this

[@Tonka5x23]

Facts.. Lot of comments clearly waited for it to be streamed

[@leroyregis8049]

Facts

[@someblackguy100]

You need to hear Rock Marcy's other bodies of work Rosebud revenge is an excellent start and then you have Mars cup

[@pim2paul]

roc is nutty with the wordplay and al is a monster. album is too nice

[@pim2paul]

and congrats on the little one. the song on repeat from this one is jj flash

[@memaximoron]

Thank you for reviewing this album!

[@desuMaKun]

I'm soooo looking forward to the next baby you'll have, because those sillysongs with profound thoghts were Amazing!!! =D

[@SomeSong2]

There's so many five star hip-hop albums in 2022 that I won't even be able to hear them all. I'm already behind on most of them.

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Fr, fr! _Several_ dropped at the same time as Roc & Alc... Meyhem Lauren & Daringer... Mach-Hommy, Fahim & Droog... Madlib & Declaime... JID... Meechy Darko... my mind was spinning! I keep trying to tell my fellow old heads that HipHop is in a _beautiful_ place, and that they need to stop hating... at least Prof. knows what's up! It's the "Invisible Renaissance" as Skye mentioned.

[@TF-tn4ft]

Congrats, Professor!!

[@infrared6973]

Right now the songs that are stuck in my head are bo jack and 5 mississipi from boldy james and real bad man project called killing nothing. Its just something about those beats that are so infectious.

[@frankme104]

Better late then never 😜

[@blahblahblah9267]

Rosebud's Revenge 1 and 2 are Marciano's best imo with Reloaded, Mt. Marci and now this closely trailing behind

[@camcolb133]

Nothing will ever top RR series...we need a 3rd one!

[@frankme104]

Marcberg, Greneberg, Marci beacoup, behold a dark horse, kaos with dj muggs! Do your homeworks!

[@NeimanMarkiss]

Macaroni is immaculate. Infinite repeat along with Momma Luv. Both bonus tracks

[@leroyregis8049]

Facts

[@erick.roberts9074]

Method Man pronounces “deliver” with a long ‘i’ to rhyme with saliva on “Sub Crazy,” from 1994. But I doubt he was the first to do this.

[@mohauntaopane4264]

That moment when you appreciated his formless style, like water, made me so happy.

[@beezy7974]

Crazy because i love Bubble bath 😅 shit Slaaaaaapsss in the whip

[@jamesperlingiero8005]

Congrats on the new member of the fam - I've been enjoying your reviews for a minute, and this album features my 2 favorite artists in hip hop over the last 4 years, so I needed to comment. In the case of Roc, I missed his first project Marcberg when it came out, but his buzz after Reloaded dropped in 2012 made him big enough to cross my radar. Marcberg or Reloaded is the place to start imo, but please listen to the man's entire discography over time. Every project is a further refinement of the singular lane he has carved. So many rappers and producers who are now getting lots of attention are influenced by what Roc has been doing for the last 12+ years (yes, Professor, Roc Marciano produced beats, which are bountiful on his other projects, are perhaps even better than his rapping at times). What you point out about the contrast between his wordplay, bravado and gun talk next to Roc's incredibly poignant, insightful "sharing of human experience" is the major thing that stood out for me on this album - his willingness and ability to articulate the harsher parts of his life. That, in my opinion anyways, is a major new layer that Roc shows on this album that he hasn't really offered up on any of his other projects. Please correct me if I've got it twisted here, but he is much more personal and reflective on this album. Up until this project he was really on his 'lamborghini dreams, nissan nightmares/movin white my ice as cool as the night air" shit. And those projects are fantastic. This project is different in my opinion. I don't know if Alchemist brought it out of him, or he is simply growing wiser as a veteran in the game. It's a pity you can't see that progression at this point, but I would be curious if anyone else thought Roc got more personal on this album in talking about his dad's heroin addiction and the trauma he suffered as a young person.

[@mikel287]

This and Mach's album dropped the weekend of my birthday and I have to say, I felt incredibly blessed. Enjoying this review so far and looking forward to hearing your thoughts on Dollar Menu 4!

[@noahleighart]

Weekend of my birthday also. Great week for new music.

[@mikel287]

@@noahleighart let's goooo! Happy birthday!

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

What an incredible night! Not just Roc/Alc dropping the same time as Mach (featuring Fahim & Droog) but Meyhem Lauren & Daringer (Griselda's amazing in-house producer, featuring GxFR artists - great album!), JID, and Meechy Darko (from Flatbush Zombies) all dropping albums 🤯 Then I found out Madlib dropped an album with his friend, Declaime, that sounds great, too! All great albums I've been spinning ever since. One of the best days for HipHop music I can remember in many, many years.

[@mikel287]

@@Jimmy1982Playlists I knew about all of these but not madlib and declaime! Niiiice!

[@noahleighart]

@@Jimmy1982Playlists Meyhem and Daringer is great too

[@mdusibisi]

Congrats SKye

[@appalled29]

Congrats on your newborn, Doc! Always appreciate your input.

[@MrGangstNerd]

Thanks for the great discussion on this album!

[@peacecraft8421]

biz goin off is actually alc's favorite album of all time

[@mrstewart97]

8:02 when I realized Alchemist unreversed the Paul Revere drum beat by head exploded

[@clammyclaude]

It’s not the same drum beat

[@codyladson]

The song “Dynamite!” by the Roots is a song for me that I just can’t get enough of. The sample and beat is just so incredible

[@aaronmccray5318]

I often say music travels your mind like ships on the ocean. What i like about the story of you discovering this new music. Is that it is emotionally connected to the birth of your daughter, Now when you listen to this music it will travel your heart like the blood in your daughter’s veins.

[@wellfedstarvingartist]

For some reason I think of 'My Left Foot' because of the thematic similarities

[@consciousconvos6060]

Check out Boldy James feat Eto "real viscious". I haven't gotten enough of it since it came out over a year ago. Especially Eto's verse - a masterpiece.

[@brickwallandeagle]

thanks for the vid skye

[@plembus]

Nice to see you back, you got a lot on the menu to enjoy :)

[@BigDuace]

Professor you are saint for this review, Roc Marci delivered a masterpiece. This is definitely album of the year ,hell with the Grammy ,like enough already !! Roc deserves more than acknowledgement. He's this generation Rakim of underground hip-hop. Seriously Alchemist should be dragged into an asylum, this run he's been on is maddening, slow down sir !! lol Also congratulations ,for your daughter. For me ,it's Liquid Coke, Rubber Band Grip, JJ Flash , Quantum Leap, Elephant Man's Bones etc lol

[@rickowenssex]

funny thing about that last BIG line, there’s actually a song from the 90’s with Busta Rhymes, Biggie, and Roc Marci on a J Dilla beat. makes that rhyme hit even deeper

[@landonsweetman7542]

What song is this?? Never heard it

[@BlackedOutBoy]

That’s Barry White on De ja vu but Lou Rawls was a good guess lol

[@JerseyMcgee81]

Your A&R impression is spot on..🤣🤣💀

[@travahnb.896]

The way you described “Daddy Kane” is how I felt about Westside Gunns’ Peace “Fly” God intro. It’s surprisingly layered and that’s not even factoring in the instrumental,one of the best of year.

[@menzidimba2804]

The way Skye feels about “Daddy Kane” and you feel about “Peace Fly God Intro” is how I feel about Westside Gunn’s “Frank Murphy”

[@lc-kn4iw]

@@menzidimba2804 when you pull that shit out, the bottom of that shit was burgundy

[@camcolb133]

I'm hella happy you reviewed this masterpiece

[@lachlantula]

congratulations to both you and your wife :)

[@camcolb133]

Yes....he is in fact THE GUY

[@thomasyancey5887]

Great review, seriously. My 1st time hearing Roc, he was on TWO tracks of Petestrumentals with the UN, the group he was in at the time. Even back then he had this something about him

[@paqui4318]

Love this album and your review. My earworm; addictive number of this year is definitely: Quelle Chris - Alive Ain't Always Livin btw..

[@yingko1933]

Elephant Man’s Bones is excellent,Roc just keeps getting better and better with each project,he is the true King of the underground…..And on a side note,great review by the way very intricate,but I’ve noticed when you mentioned who gave resurgence to the current underground sound you only mentioned Roc Marci and Mach Hommy,there is another artist who helped spearheaded this current wave of minimalist beats before Mach Hommy,his name is Willie the Kid.

[@mamba4817]

MF Doom

[@royalwarlord2342]

Please review JID’s “The Forever Story” there is so much for you to unpack and i think you will thoroughly enjoy it Its my personal AOTY

[@foundersaircare1741]

Rocs music makes me wanna drive 80 mph down the highway at midnight with a shawty in the passenger seat.

[@poloregal]

Think Big is it for me. Multiple times I’ve workout out for 2 hours at the gym, just listening to that song, on repeat for the whole two hours. And on my 4 mile walks. Just that song. Over and over.

[@wynniewynn6869]

My ‘one of those songs’ is Skin and Bones by The Sundays, perfect contrast to Roc lmao

[@raymondvanmil]

Congrats on your daughter.. & Thanks for this awesome review!! This album is even better than the anticipation I had.. With regards with what to listen to, you just have to start at the beginning, there is no way around it. The first album is what started it all, so start there!! Listen the first three, or at least two, that's the start of the renaissance.. And please understand he does all his own beats on those!!

[@gripthemoney77]

Roc Marciano king of New York....Alchemist the G.O.A.T....AOTY🔥🔥🔥

[@r.e8018]

Fully Auto by LNDN DRGS has been on heavy rotation recently

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

I love that your daughters are connected to _In Rainbows_ and _The Elephant Man's Bones,_ respectively... Our musical history is very similar: grew up on the golden age of HipHop, branched out as HipHop got weak in the '00s, and came back around for the "Invisible Renaissance" 😁 Congratulations on the new baby, Skye! Edit: Friday was an _incredible_ day for HipHop. You gotta listen to Meyhem Lauren with Griselda's in-house producer, Daringer (featuring several Griselda artists)... Madlib and his childhood friend, Delclaime, put out their second album since last year... JID came out... _and_ Meechy Darko... and more, all came out at once. 🤯🤦‍♂️ No matter what our fellow old heads say, HipHop is in a beautiful place! "Invisible Renaissance" is a great phrase for it.

[@tobyrothenborg6164]

No idea who did mispronounced rhymes first, but Method man does on Tical in 1994. He mispronounce Deliver and addresses it, to rhyme with Saliva.

[@joaoantonio9199]

With the cartier glasses line, I think, he's alluding to people who wear sunglasses all the time to hide the fact that they crosseyed. Pretty smart, he could've with blind, but crosseyed is a lot more specific and funny.

[@gianfrancodigirolamo7840]

Congrats on your new child professor ❤️

[@l-ruff618]

It’s Rakim at the end of Deja Vu right? And then he starts humming the beat for Juice (Know The Ledge)

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

That track, "Juice," is such a banger... takes me back to the early '90s, immediately! My favorite Rakim track.

[@fdost5354]

Some songs that i can't stop listening to are: Self luh and wooden nickels by mach hommy I wonder by ye I wonder by mf doom Bailan by linyeras cru, an argentinian duo Circumstances by ransom (check his new album out) Hundred ninety bands by boldy james

[@danielpiotrak3350]

Great review and amazing album. Considering how you liked jazz codes you should definitely check out "Nothing to declare" by 700 Bliss (Moor Mother + DJ Haram)!

[@fentanyljones6956]

@27:40 i heard that producer quote about ‘this shit is too easy man’ at most 2 months ago and CAN’T figure out where. I think it’s Pete Rock.

[@RacingHeartMedia]

How you perform under pressure, that’s a man’s measure- roc Marci

[@ChocolateDon929]

When I first heard the beat of DADDY KANE it reminded me of video game from A SEGA GENESES back in the day I was in love My second favorite beat was the title track

[@Kabullo76]

"The horns of Abraxax" is supposed to be a quote from the movie "Mandy" in which Nicholas Cage is the main actor. that links to what you said about the Greek divinity. In the movie the Horn of Abraxas it is used to summon demons similar to the cenobites of the movie "Hellraiser". The horn is clearly phallic and completely in line with an interpretation of Abraxas as a demigod at least partially responsible for the creation of everything. There is also a fair amount of research about the existence of reality as constructed under the rule of Abraxas. Clearly blowing the horn is a way to call into existence Abraxas and his minions and all of the realities in which he exists. there would be more but the risk of spoiling those who have not seen it. I recommend watching it, its a psychedelic horror .maybe Alc or Roc love the movie because the sinths that are there are really beautiful and create atmosphere

[@leroyregis8049]

Thanks for sharing this information

[@Steveo15]

I was also sleeping on roc marcianos music for a long time. He has a fantastic and musically diverse discography, altought surprisingly consistent in style, which im discovering too lately. Lots of gemz like the album Reloaded (2012) or marci beaucoup (2013), super sharpminded and slick projects... The EP Warm Henessy with Hus Kingpin is spectacular too. His wordplay is on another level on this one. Even in his early ages, he produced some amazing music and tried some new cadences and explored his mind deeper. He's getting better and better like fine whine. Recently, he's even more concious and precise amd sensitive with his words/imagery and production. Alchemist was a great match on this one. Both are musical geniuses. What did you expect? ;-) Also check out some of his newer Albums behold a dark horse (2018) and Murcielago (2019). If you like it even more poetic and minimalistic, check out his collaboalbum with the talented brownsville rapper Ka (Metal Clergy Decade,2021). Greez and keep up the good content papi!

[@HRDRZ]

All facts 💯

[@Jimmy1982Playlists]

Can't forget _KAOS_ with DJ Muggs - who's been on just as dope a run as his protégé, Alc, in recent years, as far as I'm concerned!

[@acaldwe1174]

My faves are between JJ Flash & The Elephant Man's Bones

[@keelowiththesteelo233]

That’s Gil Scott Heron talking in the beginning of Deja Vu I think

[@zra1080]

so many carties as in cartier glasses

[@zra1080]

dunno how theyre spelled correctly

[@ThePieguy1112]

Great video as always and congrats to you and your wife! To your point about Lil Wayne mispronouncing words and then correcting it for the rhyme, I've been trying to keep track of rhymes like these as I hear them because I think they're kind of clever. A few that I can remember: Lil Wayne on Mr. Carter (Paraplegic), Bun B on Big Pimpin (Scenario), and Gucci Mane on Good Drank (Kevin Durant).

[@ronymuhammad]

Concerning the “De Ja Vu” song….The first quote was probably Barry white. The last person talking at the end of that song was the God Rakim. The person considered the greatest MC of all time. That altered the sound of rap. Without him there would be no nas, Big, Hova, Pac. And it was showing how easy it was for him to dominate the rap game in his time the song that he was referring to was “know the Ledge”

[@beatsbysilver]

1:00:58 whole year late but another cool depth to this line is that theres an interview where Beanie Sigel mentions how Jay-Z would wear Notorious BIGs chains in the booth as motivation/a medium to kind of channel that energy

[@samenhangendpodcast7089]

When my second born girl was on the way, the daughter that i did get to raise, Ghostface dropped 12 reasons to die. This album will forever remind me of the rollercoaster of emotions i was going through at the time. Most people don't like this album by Ghostface... It is my favourite.