A HHDX Review By David Lopez The Purple City Movement started in Harlem and spawned off the success of The Diplomats. With assistance from Jim Jones on their lead single “Purple City Byrd Gang” the crew was able to build a strong street buzz that led to them signing a distribution deal with Baby Grande and Koch Records.
Known for their notorious street anthems, Purple City’s current core members of Shiest Bub “The Emperor,” Un Kasa and Agallah “The Don Bishop” have released over eight mix tapes which have sold over 80,000 units to date on the streets garnering them a bona-fide cult following.
On their first official release Road To The Riches:The Best of the Purple City Mix Tapes Purple City spits gimmicky and flashy lyrics over mostly top notch production from Agallah.
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The album is a collection of verses with few original concepts. They rap as if they are telling the new millennium version of AZ, Alpo and Rich Porter‘s street accounts. And possess the same swagger that Harlem Rappers are well known for, with references of stacking money, fucking hoes, and smoking the purple haze all over this mix tape.
The album has 19 tracks, including 4 skits and guest appearances from Dipset members Juelz Santana, Jim Jones and J.R. Writer. The track “Gun Go,” featuring Jim Jones and Juelz Santana on the hook is a street banger that entices you to “buck buck like you just don’t care.”
“Winning,” featuring Bathgate also has great production and the violin stabs on “Will Not Lose,” helps build momentum to the tracks firm proclamation of victory. Electric guitars and a rock like chorus on “It Ain’t easy” help diversify the mix tape. And “Late Night” sounds like a Cash Money Records hit as Un Kasa and Sebastian spit game to chicks and smoke after a night on the town.
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“Fuck Ya’ll I’m trying to do me, Ménage trios ma, I’m trying to do three, 106 and Park I’m trying to do Free,” says Agallah on the ” America Show” over triumphant horns proving that he is better beat maker than rap assassin.
“Cops is Coming,” featuring Juelz Santana is another heater as he ensures that even if the police interfere the party will go on. “Me and U” is a wack remake of an Outkast chorus on there ATLiens track “Elevators,” and “Real Niggaz” is a horrible assertion of wanting money and not caring about the rap industry. On the boisterous “Roll it Up,” Purple City proclaims their eagerness to smoke and not much more.
For the most part the beats on the album are good, however many are wasted by sub par lyrics as Purple City‘s road to stardom is filled with pitfalls, perhaps their hustle first mentality is stunting their lyrical contribution to the rap game. As they appear to be more concerned with making money and less worried about dropping hot verses.
