(UPDATE [01/21/2021]: Soundcloud link below isn’t working. Use the YT one.)
We were late on this, but better late than never, right?
It’s been a little over four years since we’ve had a full length album from Pharoahe Monch. We’ve seen him go overseas back in March, then dropped a verse over the summer on a Wu remix track called ‘Pearl Harbor’ (s/o AFH) – so the great thing is he’s staying busy. Fans have been wondering when he’s going to drop another album, and thanks to the interview he did with Take It Personal Radio, we have information on what the album will sound like.
“It’s pretty insane. I’m looking at the collective of records, and I’m thinking it’s one of my best projects ever,” Monch says to DJ Philaflava and Kevlar, with DJ 360 taking full control on the music-side of things with his tribute. “It’s the hardest project ever.”
“It’s the darkest project ever, and it’s the hardest,” Monch continues. “The bars are somewhere in between Extinction Agenda (Stress) and Internal Affairs.”
According to Monch, this album is something he’s been wanting to work on for eight years. He’s letting Lee Stone take full control of production duties – which goes back to his IA days. Nottz has production on the album already. Details include that there will be songs on there that doesn’t have choruses and it’s bar-heavy.
But there’s something about this album that most fans will find somewhat shocking – it will be heavy rock-influenced. Monch grew up being a major fan of rock & roll music.
“I’m a huge (Led) Zepplin fan, but I would say that the record will feel a little more like (Black) Sabbath,” Monch says.
Aside from news about another album, the question came up about whether or not he and Prince Po will get back in the studio and make another album as Organized Konfusion. The last time they’ve linked up as OK was for Marco Polo’s 2013 joint, ‘3-0-Clock‘.
“I just sent him (Po) a beat that he loves… that’s where we’re at with it right now,” Monch says. “It just gotta be super organic. As long as it’s that, I don’t care what the vibe is…”
Check out the soundcloud below. The interview starts a little after the 1:16:00 56:38 mark. The interview details everything – everything that a fan wants to know. This is a no-holds- barred interview, as well as an astounding tribute mix put together by 360.
I’d honestly say listen to this in its entirety.