Phillip Morrez “The Smokers Cough” review by Jotsone.
I won’t lie. Going into this review I did not have the most objective mindstate. Forgive me, but when Phillip Morrez told me that he leaned ‘towards the radio side of hip-hop’ in our e-mail correspondence, I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and make assumptions. This review is a testament to the fact that you should never, ever make assumptions, because The Smoker’s Cough, Vol. 1 truly surprised me, and more than surpassed expectations.
First of all, when I found his mixtape in my e-mail inbox, I had no idea who the fuck Phillip Morrez was, other than that he was another rapper from Rhode Island, which doesn’t mean much these days. What I found was a good emcee with a ton of potential. Morrez is well aware of what he is, and doesn’t try to be anything else, which is an admirable quality. The lyrics are pretty solid throughout this release, albeit some of the subject matter is a little stale; he’s not exactly reinventing the wheel with songs like “Back Pack”, an obvious attempt at a club jam dedicated to the finer sex, but he does craft a decent one. The fact that I could actually sit through a song like “Back Pack” says a lot, so kudos to him.
The most impressing parts on this release were when Morrez just rhymes and avoids bullshit topics like broads or rims; when listening to “Say Goodbye”, I actually thought to myself “If Lil’ Wayne sounded more like this, I’d probably listen to the radio more often”. Morrez shines brightest when he’s got competition on the track; “No Hesitation” featuring SBo and Montana Millz is definitely the best track on this album, with “From the Soul” featuring Montana Millz coming close to it. There are some hiccups in delivery here and there, a testament to impatience more than anything; a lot of minor kinks that bog down some verses could have easily been worked out with another take. You probably won’t notice those kinks unless you really listen – but who does that shit anymore, anyway?
While you can attach a nice, fat JOTS seal of approval on Morrez’s lyrical efforts on this release, the beats are a slightly different story. A lot of the beats are very forgettable - it’s not that they’re bad, they just could be better. Too many emcees these days are using soul beats with PLAYED OUT chipmunk hooks that are almost completely interchangeable and equally trash-able - either emcees are too lazy to dig for good producers, producers are too lazy to try new things and make original sounds, or everyone is lazy and making music is meaningless these days. Reviewer rants aside, some of the beats are quite nice – “Close Your Eyes” and “From the Soul” are pretty well done, and “Don’t Let The Beef Ride” packs some grime to it that I’d like to hear more of. So PhillMorr, do me a favor and be picky as fuck when it comes to beats for your next joint. For that matter, that goes out to every aspiring emcee that may be reading this – there’s more to rap music than free Soundclick beats. DIG!
Jots Recommends – No Hesitation feat. SBo and Montana Millz
Don’t Let The Beef Ride
Say Goodbye
Tags: Phillip Morrez, the smokers cough
November 11th, 2008 at 11:41 am
Wow… I kinda expected one of those, you could have been a tad bit more underground comments but amazingly it was just real talk… Appreciate it Jots… Ill be a little more picky with the beats i work with it for the next disc. But all in all if anyone is interested in hearing the mixtape then hit me up and ill email u a copy.
November 12th, 2008 at 1:08 am
i like this review… and not only because the track i was featured on was considered best haha ..playin. yea real talk on the review big up to jots and phillmorr
November 12th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I told you that was the best track… but next track we do together im gonna make sure your terminally ill so it will be easier to out shine you… hahahahahahhahahaha
November 13th, 2008 at 6:53 pm
I thought this was 401HipHop Not A Child porn Site
lmao
December 11th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
“Too many emcees these days are using soul beats with PLAYED OUT chipmunk hooks that are almost completely interchangeable and equally trash-able - either emcees are too lazy to dig for good producers, producers are too lazy to try new things and make original sounds, or everyone is lazy and making music is meaningless these days”
Wow Hw Thats Not Right I Love The Sped Up Vocal samples..It Give’s the Beat A Crazy Feel…Its Like Re Writing History…..Taking Old And Making It New..Listing To the Music Our Parents Usted To jam To And Then Puttin Our Spin On It To Make It Still Relevent Today…But i Guess It’s Really About who You are And The Kind Of hip Hop You Like And or make…Either Way Lets hear It For Soul samples WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
December 12th, 2008 at 11:25 am
dear marshall, i didnt write this review.
December 12th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Sorry Hw…Jots You To,I figured It was hw Cause We Had This same talk At Our Last Show..Oh Well WWWWWWOOOOOOOOO VOCAL SAMPLES Lets Get Some New Events On This Bitch…What The Fuck happened To This Site…
December 13th, 2008 at 2:00 am
it fell off fast. no more post on opinions, just shows, a album review here and there… im not saying i can do better but maybe a more consistant writer to help. Here you go instead of shit talking on other peoples reviews, how bout just a general post for people to let there opinions fly. Like, name 5 local artist who are better then you.. o wait this is 401hiphop.com everybody is the best in ther own head and we wonder why RI Doesnt grow. so instead i will promote my self and say early 2009 sbo and neysean present “Survival in the state of hate ” and hit me for collabs….
December 13th, 2008 at 4:05 pm
What’s good wit a collabo sbo? I know u live like an ear shot away but u been scarce @ the gate…. I need in on everything I can get my hands on….
December 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
O yea ment to say that Im diggin those soul tracks….
December 13th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
there’s nothing wrong with a good soul beat, but there is something wrong with bad ones. chipmunk hooks belong in 2003, not now. pitching up four bars of a song and looping it does not make a good beat, end of story.
December 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Yo I aint Trashin The review,Jots Does His thing every Time i just had To rep for Sped Up Vocals…Cause Their The greatest thing Since Sliced Bread…Either way Im with sbo…And In The spirit Of opinions Which two Local Artists would yall wanna See battle At An event??????
Mine Is Marcellino Vs. Raise 2 The first one was crazy They were neck And neck For most Of it And their punchline were All Top notch (except For Raise Saying That Rhode islands Where The gays Meet)other Than That It was Dope And as A Fan I would love To see That Again!!!!
December 13th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Yo Jots i feel You,nothing personal…
December 13th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
HW the people of the site i think wanna see a lil slot where we can throw the punches… Is there a way where we can have a small forum to create our own topics and see others view on them?
December 13th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
soul samples are dope, marshall hook me up with one homie…..
Marcellino Vs. Raise would be dope…. but honestly i rather see a tournament style because i missed the first one… i might even jump in.. but thats taken me back.. either way i would like to see this site crackin again.. it was ill to come home check it out and see like 10 messages posted a day…. but lately.shit is wack….
December 13th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Yo Lets get This Shit Alive again Im down for tournament..And Sbo check out My page i got Beats Up If Yo uAnd Ney need Beats get At Me Just let Me Be a Feature
December 13th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
lets hit a soulsample haha… stothebo@yahoo.com
lets do it homie
December 14th, 2008 at 1:06 am
this site sucks because certain people inject it with hate constantly. i post on other forums where tons of people get together from all over and do mass collabs for no reason other than to just do it…they’re making art while we bicker amongst ourselves over some stupid shit. contrary to popular belief, music is not about who you do shows with or how many people know who you are, it’s about making something of value that is aesthetically pleasing in some way or another. so let’s fucking do it already
December 14th, 2008 at 1:08 am
and yo, no hating on battling because i know it’s a real artform and it takes tons of skill to do it well (i am awful at battling, by the way), but i think pitting emcees against each other as opposed to people joining up and doing shit is the wrong route to be taking at this point
December 14th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Well All bald chimpmunks Aside…i think this Site Is dope….well was Dope..
December 14th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAA….
only if that was another sneaky pete joke…
If it wasnt then just…
hahahahaha.
December 14th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Course It was,Fuck that Clown..
December 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
So EBT was straight this month. Id like to see it like that every month… Lets get this page jumpin…
December 15th, 2008 at 5:08 pm
YO EBT WAS DOPE LAST NIGHT!!!!!!
It will indeed be like that for the remaining time i have the pleasure HOSTING & PROMOTING…..
BIG SHOUT OUT 2 AM from 401Klik for the help promoting
&
Thanks to every one who came out
anyway that said this site died i contacted Mortal so i could post topics and other shows in RI & surrounding areas that get over looked on this site but no reply……..
I had fun except phills parts ha just playin
next show will be better HOLLAR 4 SLOTS!!!!