Double Barrel

Repping for Queens-via-Toronto, Marco Polo is a fast-rising producer carrying the torch for that hardcore New York boom-bap, so much so that the one-and-only DJ Premier gives his co-sign on the intro track. After working with an impressive roster of golden-era icons (Masta Ace, Boot Camp Clik, Sadat X, among others), he dropped his first official album, the well-received *Port Authority* in 2007. Whereas that record played like a star-studded compilation, *Double Barrel* is more of a two-man show, co-starring talented if slept-on Brooklyn MC Torae. The result is 14 tracks of relentlessly rugged hip-hop overflowing with punch-you-in-the-face drum hits and grimy-yet-soulful samples galore. Just about every song on here is a winner, but some standouts include \"Rah Rah Sh\*t,\" \"Hold Up,\" \"Get It,\" and the title track, featuring cuts from DJ Revolution.

Torae and Marco Polo - Double Barrel review: Some dope (and refreshingly updated) east-coast bangers.