Underground Chicago based rappers Chris Crack and Vic Spencer have both been putting together some very solid projects within the underground hip-hop scene for quite sometime now. They are frequent collaborators, and on Who the Fuck is Chris Spencer? they deliver their first full-length album has a collective. While Vic Spencer is perhaps best known as the guy who exchanged diss tracks with fellow up and coming Chicago emcee Mick Jenkins late last year, he, as well as Crack, are both also known as on the rise hip-hop artists who are looking to use this release as a stepping stone to the next level of popularity.
The album is presented as a concept project, an introduction to Chris Spencer, as the project's title implies, and while you do learn that he's a wise cracking, beyond confident man who has no problem speaking highly of himself, that's about as far as the duo manage to take it. Their lyricsm isn't bad, and there are a plethora of clever lines that still cause me to chuckle after multiple listens. The best example of the quick-witted song-writing comes on the cut Ice Cubes when Vic Spencer spits the line "y'all get an A+ for sucking balls." It's simple, straight forward lines like this that the two specialize with, and when it's combined with the 90's inspired production of the album, it works quite well.
The downside, however, is that the production isn't always all that impressive. Instrumentals like the vocal sample driven beat of Zebra Ave or the strange synth based production found on The New Information aren't able to be redeemed by the rapping, because the two rely on their ability to ride the beat so heavily that when using an unimpressive instrumental, they end up failing to deliver. With that being said, there are also tracks where the samples are extremely well done and the beats help propel Spencer and Crack to a much higher level then they'd otherwise be on. Spencer has proven himself as talented behind the boards, and assuming he handled those duties on this project as well, he certainly came through with some of the best production I've heard from him on the album's better cuts.
As I mentioned, the two were clearly influenced by 90's hip-hop as the jazz based sampling and laid back flows are the driving force throughout. No Biggie is an exception of that rule, as the trap flavoured song features some hard-hitting bass and an aggressive flow from the two Chicago natives. At no point do they look to bring anything new or unique to the table, and that is perhaps just a byproduct of drawing as much inspiration as they do from the past.
Any fan of either of the two gifted emcees' should take the time to check this one out, and those not acquainted will find this to be an easy way of being introduced. Who truly is Chris Spencer? He's not anyone exciting or innovative, but when he's firing on all cylinders, he makes some truly enjoyable hip-hop tracks.
Favorite Tracks: Cue Ball, No Biggie, Drunken Monkee
Least Favorite Tracks: Zebra Ave, The New Information
Least Favorite Tracks: Zebra Ave, The New Information
Rating: 3.5/5
Listen to the duo's track Cue Ball below:
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