Marco Polo

On The Stupendous Adventures of..., Toronto, ON-born, NYC, NY-based producer Marco Polo further cements his position as the go-to guy for gritty, grimy, percussion-heavy beats with a strong mid-'90s NYC vibe. It's not that Polo is a one-dimensional producer; he's diverse enough to create a rowdy stomper like "Buggin Out," with D-Stroy and Bad Seed, then follow it up with a bass-y, funky, soulful beat like the one on Large Professor's "The Radar Remix." He's just a producer with a clear vision. He doesn't follow trends. He doesn't really create club tracks and he doesn't produce for-the-ladies rap ballads. He makes stark, aggressive headphone music and he does it very well. Every song on Stupendous Adventures is a classic head-nodder, complete with sharp hi-hats and crashing snares. Unlike other producer albums, there are no weak MCs on Stupendous Adventures. Polo knows that his beats shine best with a hot verse over top. As a result, the track list reads like a who's-who of East Coast underground rap from the last two decades. Regular Polo collaborators Torae and Rustee Juxx make a few appearances. There are some classic verses from old school heads like Large Professor, Grand Daddy I.U. and Skoob from Das EFX, as well as from younger cats like Skyzoo and Diamond District. He even manages to get a little Cancon in the mix courtesy of songs from Shylow, Arcee and Promise. All these rappers bring their A-game to Adventures. The Stupendous Adventures of... shows why Marco Polo is a favourite for MCs who favour an aggressive sound, and if there were any justice in the world, it would help him cross over from cult hero to superstar.