Since issuing his solo debut — 2010’s sublime Marcberg — Hempstead, L.I. rapper and one-time Flipmode Squad soldier Roc Marciano has become something of an unofficial spiritual godfather to a steadily-evolving niche sub-strand of underground New York Hip Hop.
With lyrics that knot together traditional East Coast rap values with elements of crime noir, ultraviolence and an appreciation of luxury goods and haute cuisine, this loosely-connected constellation of like-minded veterans and younger upstarts (including Hus Kingpin, Ka, Westside Gunn, Conway The Machine, Meyhem Lauren and more) has built a cult following with a series of vital releases in recent times, and shrugged off those rather flimsy “stuck-in-the-’90s” accusations from less-informed segments of Hip Hop’s peanut gallery.
So while it’s been three years since he dropped his Marci Beaucoup and The Pimpire Strikes Back projects back-to-back, Roc Marc has stayed firmly in view thanks to a steady flow of high-quality off-cuts, loosies and scintillating guest spots. As a result, anticipation among the Hip Hop cognoscenti for this, his third official solo LP, has duly remained at fever pitch.
Like Citizen Kane, Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece that inspired the album’s title (just Google “Rosebud,” kids!), Roc Marciano’s idiosyncratic stream-of-conscious raps zigzag like a series of flashbacks, memories, snapshots and recollections. It’s an impressive approach – the narrative ebbs and flows, deftly jump-cutting back and forth between fearsome rap brags and frontline dispatches from the metropolis’ dark underbelly.
On the gloomy “Pimp Arrest,” for example, one moment he’s “on the Tommy gun, circular/I’m speaking in codes, you need interpreters…”, the next he’s fleeing, mobster-style, to Ecuador. The seditiously soulful “Here I Am,” meanwhile, combines a chillingly-blasé description of a walk-by (which could have been pulled straight from a Mario Puzo manuscript) with the best food-and-drink-related insult this side of Daniel Plainview’s “I drink your milkshake!”: “My man bring the drum/Let’s give the drummer some/Rum-pum-pum-pum/I let a hot one run in your cummerbund/Blood was all on his tux, button-up … I had the mask on, I had to just lift it/To let him know who did this/I ate your food, it was delicious…”
Brownsville rapper Ka, a familiar presence on Roc Marciano’s albums, delivers a reliably spiky guest verse on “Marksmen,” while Knowledge the Pirate weighs in on “No Smoke.” Other hard-boiled highlights include the punchy “History,” where the Pimpstead playbook (“The rap magnate/ Jackets made of snake/ Get cash at a rapid pace/ Like the way rabbits mate”) is lucidly laid out over some opulent strings, and the reflective “Pray 4 Me,” in which Roc delves into his younger years. Similarly, “Better Know” is built around a lavish piano-and-trumpets arrangement, a suitably grandiose backdrop for the veteran MC to compare himself to both billionaire investor Warren Buffett and Geto Boys mainstay Willie D.
Beats are supplied by frequent collaborators Arch Druids, along with Knxwledge, Modus Op, Mushroom Jesus, and Roc himself. The production offers one or two sly nods to Gotham rap’s glory days — dramatic curtain-raiser “Move Dope,” produced by George “Mushroom Jesus” Paulin, almost recalls a Liquid Swords-era RZA. But, ultimately, Marciano’s sonic palette is markedly more expansive than on previous works. The brilliant “Burkina Faso,” for instance, drenches an otherwise vanilla piano loop in twisted, warped synths to suitably spooky effect. Later, on tracks like “Pig Knuckles,” velvety ‘70s soul samples bring a degree of finesse to the clandestine pimpology.
And it’s that iron-fist-in-a-velvet-glove approach that, in the end, reaps rich rewards for Roc Marciano’s latest work. In an increasingly-predictable rap universe top-heavy with trolling mumble-rappers and formulaic pop-trap beats, Rosebudd’s Revenge’s quiet-storm menace makes for a surreptitiously potent punch of heavyweight Hip Hop.
Rating is correct
Pimpstead
Top notch lyricism…raw and authentic hip hop…dope album
Roc always delivered
Finally a review thats accurate on this site. Marc never fails. I copped this album instantly.
Marse Nigga
Wait, wtf? I gotta go cop this right now jack. Gave it a 5 because it’s my boy, but from the amazon snippets its about a 4. I have to listen more
5/5
never knew somone would have re-invente new york rap like that
Wu affiliates always create bangers #Facto
this shit was fire!!!
Hold this L
ROC Marci always holding it down…. Real Rap!!
Nice
Roc Marci is criminally underrated. Like that HHDX recognized real sh*t and not just the mumble ish.
Love the beats and the top-notch rhymes.
“Better know” and “move dope” are fire beats
Just wish it was mixed better-vocals are drowned out at times. Needs a hand from ALC in mixing.
Ain’t no trap beats and mumble raps over here son this is authentic hip hop. Rain hale snow feniess the flow…..
5/5 period!!
I’ve been the greatest roc marciano fan straight from nigeria he needs to be at the top of the table asap.
Dude plenty roc fans down here in Nigeria . The aura his sounds create is in a league of its own. Another gem right here.
It’s like am in my own world out here,good to know I hv like minded people.
Roc rocks, mufucka never fails. Ev’time he drops, he gotta streets reloaded. Dats hiphop in its purest form.
DOpe , this guy has 4 albums all of them are dope
Some rappers should take notice on Marciano, they made 2 good albums & all of sudden they stop making good albums
they pander to much on todays view of rap & throw joints on their albums that dont fit in or are wack
The most consistent for putting out a dope album i dropped $70 on the Gold Vinyl without hearing one track Roc dont fuck around
Roc always has crazy bars, wordplay & style. The problem is the minimal drums on every single album, the abstract samples in a 2 bar loop, the horrible mixing of his vocal levels has become very repetitive & boring. Hip Hop was built on drums!
His Voice is the Drums
You just don’t get it, subtlety is a major part of his method. The drums are often minimal and mixed low to showcase the lyrics but he also has plenty of songs that bang. Roc is revered for making that grimy raw shit but you want it polished? Nah.
No, I totally get it. It’s repetitive & monontonous the same way the mainstream cats are Trap Beats, 808s & Dance-Tech sounds.
Best
Been on the album for 2weeks none stop
Flame.
REAL, RAP, RAE …NO SKINNY JEANS OR YOGA SWEATS U #MOIST RAPPERS PAY ATTENTION! Kids Take notes!
Another superb release from Marci, this man does not disappoint. Replay value galore. I remember back when a friend put me on to Marcberg, at first listen I thought it was pretty good then a year later I would agree it was a modern classic. Looking forward to the collaboration album with Ka (Metalclergy) as well as the rumored album with Alchemist.
Great album. He always comes with the same formula, but it works perfectly.
forgot to rate
this is the best album i’ve heard in years. Roc’s work on the boards is so underrated. his samples are nuts
Facts
Album title inspired by Rosebudd Bitterdose – American Pimp…not by the sled from Citizen Kane…just an fyi
dope
On par with Reloaded with two listens, but it still has to grow on me. Catalogue reaching Nas/Hov status.
5/5
Like Rae/Ghostface at their best, with beats reminiscent of Freddie gibbs/madlib joint.
Blew me away, Roc’s getting better and better.
Another banger from the Roc, a highlight of the season (year).
The album is laid back with beats that you smoke joints to. Roc Marciano creates this world of crime movies, shoot outs and fancy cars. Can’t get enough of it.
Yet another Classic
Another Classic