Doomtree
(Doomtree)
"It's been a long time coming," so you'll understand if Doomtree have a few things to get off their chests—21 tracks worth, to be exact, and not a minute wasted. The Minneapolis hip-hop collective's debut is eight years in the making, culled from notepads and vinyl crates placed out of sight—but rarely out of mind—while various members of the eleven-strong crew pursued solo projects. You've probably heard of P.O.S., and Lazerbeak, maybe Sims and Turbo Nemesis. But Mike Mictlan? Cecil Otter?
Outside their hometown and above ground, Doomtree is a rather nebulous lineup occasionally name-dropped as part of Rhymesayers' extended family. Their first group effort might be a golden ticket out of obscurity, though arguably their strength owes much to the cutthroat life: "We/ be/ all in the struggle, man/grind hard/ twenty-four seven, man." The hunger is palpable—and evenly divided. Each artist's defiance and determination bleeds through unique voices, from Dessa's assured grace under fire to Otter's smooth-talkin' cynicism and Mictlan's confrontational roar. And the beats? This is the wine-pairing of production. Eclectic instrumentals massaging rhymes into position… Good things come to those who wait. But, uh, let's hope the next album drops before 2016.
Standout Tracks: “Game Over," "Liver Let Die" JAMIE GADETTE
