It's been a pretty slow year so far for hip-hop albums, but luckily next week (February 2) Statik Selektah is dropping one of 2010's first dope LPs, 100 Proof: The Hangover. The third album from the New England native features an impressive roster of guest artists like Bun B, Sean Price, Fashawn, Consequence, Smif-N-Wessun, Talib Kweli, Red Cafe, Lil Fame, and many more. But all-star lineup aside, the album's most impressive feature is the sample-heavy music, made entirely by Statik, who has quietly become one of the industry's most reliable beatmakers. To find out how the decidedly darker sound came together, Complex visited Statik's home studio in Brooklyn and asked him to break down each song off 100 Proof, track-by-track. Listen to the leaks and read Statik's commentary below...
1. "Inside A Change (Intro)"
Statik Says: "The intro is dialogue originally from Rik Cordero's movie Inside A Change. I produced the theme to the actual movie with Consequence and Paula Campbell—Me and Rik, Paula and Cons got a group called Band Camp...it's like a hip-hop Lucy Pearl—no one's ever had a music video director as part of a group before. But the second I saw Rik's movie, I was like, 'Yo I need to use that part.' It's just an ill way to start it off, because this album is especially more personal to me. This last year, between deaths and break ups and all kinds of shit, 2009 was a dark year, so to set it off that way, talking about toxic relationships and all that was some ill shit. I was just trying to help amplify what Rick was trying to do with the movie."
2. "So Close, So Far" f/ Bun B, Wale & Colin Munroe
Statik Says: "This one is obviously about yes men, which I know is a major, major problem in hip-hop. It's a simple concept, but it's important. There are so many herbs out there though who just dick ride whoever is comin' out. It's wack, dude!"
16. "Eighty-Two" f/ Termanology
Statik Says: This is a preview of 1982, the album me and Term have coming out. It's me and Term together, like on some Gang Starr shit. Just wait til you hear the album."
17. "Walking Away" f/ Kali & Novel
Statik Says: "I actually made this record for Tru-Life. He's still in the fucking tombs. The last time he was in public, he was actually right here in this studio. Literally a couple of days later he was gone. This beat was originally gonna be him and Saigon, but we made the best out of it since he's still locked up. The chorus goes 'You go your way, I'll go mine,' it's a great way to end the album"
BONUS: Hidden Track!
Statik Says: "Actually there's a secret song on there, it's pretty funny. You gotta fast forward like a minute after the album for it. It's something hilarious that happened one time with me, Lord Sear, and Fame. You'll see."
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