Purple City "Road to the Riche$: The Best of the Purple City Mixtapes" (Audio CD) |
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Purple City is more an attitude created and cultivated by rapper/producer/entrepreneur Shiest Bub than any particular location (although it does embody the spirit of the Harlem and Washington Heights sections of New York City where it originated). As he rose in the hip-hop mixtape world, Shiest Bub routinely adorned himself in purple, producing an indelible image as he joined up with Agallah and Un Kasa, and aligned with the powerful Diplomats crew to become one of the strongest East Coast mixtape producers. ROAD TO THE RICHES, a title recalling the like-minded seminal 1989 hit by Kool G. Rap, brings Purple City's underground world out into the daylight, collecting the strongest tracks from the group's numerous mixtapes for its official debut. The result is anything but patched together, as the tracks blend almost supernaturally for a hazily enjoyable record. The Purple City sound combines a 1990s bass-heavy, stripped-down vibe with an odd pop sensibility for a sinister and strange aesthetic. On tracks like "Winning" and "Purple City Byrdgang," the raps are laid down hard, yet somehow drift above the unearthly melodies for a unique listening experience. With its inventive 21 tracks, ROAD TO THE RICHES is a strong coming-out party for the Purple City set.
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