Reks

When it comes to brutal honesty and realism, Beantown’s Reks stands chin up, shoulders square and lets his pointed words fall where they may, unafraid of any controversy that may ensue. Such is the plan of attack on his latest LP, Grey Hairs, an album that comes crashing down like a ton of bricks, lined cover-to-cover with NYC beats and flows either crafted by or in homage to the city’s hip-hop royalty. While producer Statik Selektah carves out most of the record’s gritty sound, the murky tones and drones of DJ Premier’s "Say Goodnight” make for an out-of-the-gate banger early on. Meanwhile, Reks aims to prove he can handle any topic, theme or trait, be it dissecting the evils of the paper chase, dealing with teenage pregnancies, straight battle raps or turning in a masterful show of verbal dexterity, channelling Biggie, 2Pac, Big Pun and Big L on the M.O.P.-assisted "5 Mics.” Who says "New York” hip-hop is dead?