ALBUM REVIEW: Stick Figgas - Realistick
Stickfiggas are a hip-hop duo hailing from Metro Manila, The duo consists of rappers Loonie and Ron Henley (formerly known as 'Xplizit' in their earlier days). The two have been at it in the hip-hop scene for almost a decade. From being contestants in Francis Magalona's Rappublic of the Philippines talent search back in 2006 to releasing a 17-track album titled "Critical Condition" in 2007. The duo's debut album is a special mention in one of my favorite local rap releases of all time. Critical Condition was a full package; it emphasized heavily on multi-syllabic rhyming, relevant skits, narratives about the underground hip-hop scene and living in a corrupted government system, and it also had a bunch of great hooks that are executed by Kat Araggado of soul band Sinosikat?
"Critical Condition" was a poem in epic proportions. It sparked a fire in aspiring rappers heads to write more thoughtfully and persuasively. Novelty rap at the time was all over the radio and Stickfiggas might be the only legitimate rap group that doesn't fall under nor defers to the poison of novelty. And i gotta be honest, Momay wasn't a great representative for rap music (jeez!).
Now let's move forward ten years later, Stick Figgas is now a household name in the hip-hop industry. Both of the members are locally and internationally known, releasing hit per hit and up until now, their own individual songs are still played on the local radio. Loonie joined a rap battle league and made a name for himself on his own while 'Xplizit' came back strong with a best-selling album and a new stage name Ron Henley. I was fairly new to the game at the time and knowing that these two have worked together way back just blew my young adolescent mind.
Back in 2015, Stick Figgas have decided to join up one more time and released a comeback single titled "Laman Loob". I already listened to that track when it was released. I loved the new big band production (which had an electric guitar, drums, and a turntable) while they still attain the rap chemistry of Loonie and Ron Henley.
As of this writing, My days of being a young adult are almost over. I've got a lot of responsibilities to take care of and a lot of things that I have to worry about. 2018 is what I thought to be boring after an amazing year of music back in 2017. But then it came, a surprise release from the supergroup Stick Figgas. My 2018 wasn't I thought it would be. It felt like i was back in my 5th grade days sitting down listening to their music all over again. I sat down and opened the Spotify browser in Chrome and decided to sit through of one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Stick Figgas have released their sophomore effort titled "Realistick" with 9 tracks and it runs for over 35 minutes. The now 8-piece outfit is fully charged with Kat Araggado back in vocals, and the rest of the members from other metal background. They're sure enough to know that they're giving us an audio treat.
Realistick opens with a long instrumental intro track titled 4:19, from the very start i find it okay and appropriate to open the album with a warm-up. The only thing I wanted to hear here is the turntable. The sick scratch since it's a hip-hop album instead i only heard a piano solo and a bunch of guitar effects to add ~flavor~ in the mix. As much as possible, i don't want to make this much of a big deal. Instead, i just let it as it is.
The second track "Laman Loob", a track that i still love up unto this point. What i noticed here is they did some minor changes in the track which are both Loonie and Ron Henley's verses are re-recorded and they lowered Kat Aragaddo's voice in the mix which is weird to me. Nevertheless, it's still a great track that is backed by a solid production. The third track "Mukha Ng Pera" is kind of a return to form for Loonie and Ron Henley. Illustrating how money is the root of all evil. The theme in "Mukha Ng Pera" is what keeps Realistick running in full steam. The backing band is what helps the duo paint their own visual on how money has become a weak system in the economy ten years after their formation. So it's a thumbs up for Stick Figgas to keep this content relevant up until now.
The fourth track "Ubasan" may be their most commercial track to date. The track is all about the dangers of inviting someone for a one night stand or anyone who has the power to take advantage of anyone on sight. "Ubasan" made it sound like it's fun but the writtens here are making us to think for a second time when it comes to trusting strangers and power-hungry individuals. There are references of Ron Henley's track "Biglang Liko", making both of these tracks to connect as if there's an ongoing narrative up until now. The hook is what made this track catchy as i come back to it from time to time. The fifth track "Parisukat" was a slow track with matching jazz organs and a subject matter that almost applies to anyone who has a name in the industry. There are times where each verse talks about addiction, fame, life, and death. It's overall a glimpse of how life is unfair to someone else's point of view. Storytelling-wise it does kinda feel a bit vague to who they are speaking as or who are Loonie and Ron are narrating about. Even if i listened to this track for the third time, it still keeps me questioning what this track is all about besides it is this constant rambling of life with soul influenced music juxtaposed in the production.
The sixth track "Hiram" does kinda continue where "Parisukat" left off, it is again a song about life except it more on discusses the existential crisis and how using drugs is a way of escapism. This might be one o my favorite tracks on the entire album. Not only the subject can be brought up in meaningful conversations but also Loonie and Ron. Henley just went batshit crazy on the track and a lot of the writtens here are crafted with so much intricate stuff that are pointing out on the theme as well.
The seventh track "Bara Bara" is a track that is self-aware at the same time breaking a fourth of wall of this album. By self-aware, the duo points out their earlier stuff by freestyling and most of the time the two are just messing with each other. But the down part here in this track is that it can come off as a filler track. The instrumental did a great job to keep up with the song but what it looks like to me is that both Loonie and Ron Henley are just wasting their time just freestyling over a solid band play.
The eighth track titled "Sinungaling" calls out all of the fakery and liars. I have nothing much to say in the track. It only had an okay concept and the only great thing that this song had was Loonie's last verse. Now, the last track "Nandito Lang Ako" was a mellow closer to the album. I don't want to get into it since the track is just about being there for someone who's in need which isn't bad but yeah we get it.
Just to wrap everything up, "Realistick" is in my opinion, not an 'important' album as many people would claim. To me, it's not as relevant as many other hip-hop albums that were released for the past two years. But it is to me a come back from one of mainstream hip-hop's most dynamic duos today. The album is endorsed with many other production credits from talented musicians all over the commercial rock scene. "Realistick" befriends the old multisyllabic rhyme skill and animated sociopolitical rants with a new set of sonic palette for Generation Z-sters to look up to. There are tracks that I wish it should be cut off from the final mix (4:19 and Bara Bara). It's a great album to listen through and i kinda want to suggest it to my friends who are into different kinds of music.
LISTEN TO THE ALBUM IN THE SPOTIFY LINK RIGHT HERE: https://open.spotify.com/album/1QS0Eecq7O6CzIL4Kf2r5Z