Stoned Genius

Long associated with trendsetting label Stones Throw, and after one solo album for them, Roc C has fully taken control of his artistic vision with this self-released third effort on Kash Roc Entertainment: the aptly-titled Stoned Genius, a start-to-finish ode to the higher side of hip hop. Deftly balancing his lyrically-oriented roots in the 90s backpack movement, and with a clear affinity for thick, sample-driven beats courtesy of veterans Alchemist, Madlib, Oh No, and Jake One, Roc C has accomplished the near-impossible task of augmenting his own style/flow/songs with guest talent. The "blunted" theme of the album ties the package together, from the cover art to the interlude dialogue, to the general sonic quality of the beats- chopping odd sounds that draw from dancehall, rock, soul, and reggae influences. The end result is a very cohesive, head-nodding, good trip through Roc C's story-telling mind.