Marco Polo & Torae - "PartyCrashers" - SXSW 2010 Showcasing Artist

SXSW 2010 Showcasing Artist

When it comes to beats and rhymes, Canadian producer Marco Polo and Brooklyn MC Torae dont play, just check the résumé. On his 2007 critically acclaimed album Port Authority, Polo recruited a whos who of MCs like Kool G Rap and Kardinal Offishall to ride over his hard-hitting, boom-bap instrumentals. Torae, on the other hand, has certified his rep as one of the games illest lyricists in a similar fashion with remarkable wordplay on his highly touted 2008 street album Daily Conversation. So, in the spirit of great hip-hop duos, the producer and the MC signed with Duck Down Records (home of Buckshot, 9th Wonder, Black Moon, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Sean Price, Heltah Skeltah, DJ Revolution, Smif N Wessun, Boot Camp Clik, Ruste Juxx and Kidz in the Hall) in 2009 to release their collaborative album Double Barrel.

Hes bringing the hardest production that he can bring, Im bringing the hardest rhymes I can bring; together its like a double barrel blast, says Torae of the albums persistent theme. The two first hooked up when Marco tapped the MC to guest on his Mick Boogie-helmed mixtape The New Port Authority in 2007. In turn, Marco went on to produce Casualty on Tors Daily Conversation. I think we just had a connection in the studio, says Polo, We wanted to make an album that we wanted to hear with banging beats and aggressive rhymes.

Sonically Double Barell pays homage to New Yorks mid-90s rap scene, when artists like Gangstarr and Wu-Tang Clan reigned supreme. The albums first single Party Crashers is a definite standout, harkening back to that era with its chest thumping percussion and rock solid rhymes. So rather then try to fit in with hip-hops pop set, Marco and Torae chose the unconventional route. I think the sound of the album is not the most popular or trendy, but were going to crash the party, says Tor, Were coming in with this sound and were coming in doing what we want to do.

Songs like the dramatic But Wait and the free associative Word Play display Tors forward thinking conceptuality, while the rock-infused Danger stands as one of Marcos finest productions to date. Overall the album is chock-full of the street-influenced rap that fans have come to expect from the two hip-hop upstarts.

More than superior rhymes and dynamic beats, Double Barrel is a testament to the ever-important creative relationship between rapper and beat maker. You want to have a good sense of chemistry with a person and Marco and I have good chemistry, says Torae.

Youre going to have a consistency in the sound, says Marco of the benefits of the one MC, one producer dynamic.

Throughout the album pays homage to the genre of rap that influenced the duo and even features critically acclaimed heavyweights like M.O.P., Masta Ace and Sean Price to help balance out the track list. Still while honoring the past, Marco and Toraes main goal is ultimately to further their art. Were not trying to take it back, says Marco we just wanted to make an album that knocks.

With the boom bap in tow, the pair aim to prove that behind all the flashy videos and high priced toys, hip-hop always boils down to two things: beats and rhymes. Double Barrel more than accomplishes the goal, and Torae sums up the collaboration perfectly when he spits, He makes violent beats, Im from the violent streets/That Double Barrel sound is where the violence meets.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Marco
• Polo
• Torae
• austin
• texas
• 2010
• sxsw
• rap
• hip
• hop
• duck
• down
• records
• south southwest
• south by southwest

[MCJonZen]

the real hip hop is right there

[JonPhilspector]

I love when they crashed the kids party !

[BboyFake2009]

@ChrisSousaPortugal Yeeeeeeah!!

[ChrisSousaPortugal]

@BboyFake2009 His beats are great

[BboyFake2009]

@ChrisSousaPortugal whaaat???

[ChrisSousaPortugal]

Marco Polo's beats are just too ridiculous

[415Underdog]

torae looks like LL

[415Underdog]

tirae looks like LL

[BOUCANEE]

GAY ASS RAPPERS

[FEELGOOD34x]

FIRE 210

[turfintomkills]

lawlz....the guidos see this this is my new fuckin haircut