Elmatic

A Detroit emcee who\'s been steadily paying dues since the late \'90s, Elzhi is well known in his hometown and is finally starting to be recognized outside of the D. As a kid he attended open mics at the legendary Hip Hop Shop before collaborating with local players like DJ HouseShoes and 9-2-5 Colony (with Nick Speed and Majestik Legend), and he later joined Slum Village after J Dilla left the group. He was featured prominently on five SV releases and also dropped a pair of EPs and the well-received solo album *The Prelude* in 2008. *Elmatic* is his most impressive work to date; it\'s a tribute to Nas\' landmark *Illmatic*, set to stellar production from the live band Will Sessions. With 12 tracks that highlight his undeniable lyrical skills, he puts a new spin on beloved classics like \"Memory Lane,\" \"Life\'s a B\*tch,\" and \"It Ain\'t Hard to Tell.\" He branches out on \"Verbal Intercourse Part 2,\" where he vents his frustration with the music industry. A high-quality concept mixtape, this sets the stage for his album *The Feed*.