Shylow, the 46-year-old MC and producer from Durham Region, Ontario, Canada, is a true old school legend. This man has left his mark on gaming as the founder of the Bomb Shelta Association and through his work with several cool crews such as 1st Division, The Shelter, and the Dookie Bros. It is no surprise that he is identified as Beat Yoda by Marco Polo himself. One and all respect!
Shylow took his first solo steps with the 2002 track "Moment of Clarity," produced by Ayatollah. At the time, many thought a solo album would be forthcoming, but Shylow chose to focus on The Shelter and then the Dookie Bros. After the split from 1st Division, who left behind their salty release "Overworked & Underpaid," we thought for a while that it was over. But no, a decade later, Shylow is all the way back from never being gone.
His self-produced track "The Contingency Plan" kicks in the door and shows that you shouldn't underestimate him again. With "Haute Tension," he serves up an intense vibe and lyrical chest buildup where he is not shy about making his point. "Bloodlust" warns in brutal fashion; don't you dare test Shylow's mic skills because before you know it you'll be out!
On "Opportunism" we hear Franchise flooing alongside Shylow about all those wannabe's who think they have the world in their grasp. This leads you into "Daily Affirmations" where Shylow makes it clear that someone's opinion of him is just air to him. The soulful sample on "Listen" brings a nostalgic touch, reflecting on his experiences over the years.
When Shylow shows his hardest lyrical side on "I Am Him," we step back to watch this magic happen. "I'm the Muthafuckin' Man" featuring Skanks the Rap Martyr is an anthem for those who consider themselves at the top of the rap game. "The Fam Jam" swings with an homage to all the fam and "Problem Solvers," again with Franchise, shows that they will take any problem for a while.
To top it off, he ends with "Better Than You," where Shylow makes it clear: He is the top dog in the mic arena. Then "The Hate Song" concludes his solo debut with a story of highs and lows in his personal and musical life.
"The Contingency Plan" is a project that digs deep into Shylow's soul and is a product of recent events in his life. Completely self-produced, a nod to the golden ages that constitute him. This record is pure salt worthy, with a perfect balance between old-school and cutting-edge. Worth a big 8/10! What do you hip-hopheads think? Leave those peppy comments!
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