Louis “LQ” Iverson and Keith ”Smeazy” Passmore, combine the experience, wisdom, and knowledge of everyday life with the mastery of Hip Hop and Soul Music to make up the duo MC². As prior military members, the group got its start in Washington, DC. Now as civilians, and dedicated to the creation of music as well as other avenues of creativity and entertainment, both MCs reside in San Antonio, TX. Smeazy, originally from Raleigh, NC and LQ, from Wichita, KS, find their music influences from artists and groups such as A Tribe Called Quest, Little Brother, BlackStar, Common, J DIlla, The Roots, and many more.
The music on their single “It’s ok” ft. Mojo, and produced by Tek Nalo G, is innovative and deep. These guys are in the underground and non-commercial. I have yet to hear a hip-hop duo top the palpable chemistry between these two verbal acrobats.
Their analogies bleed the wisdom of two guys who could deliver hip-hop-based sermons. Their soulful style reflects that of the classic sound. Its combination of a rumbling bass guitar, snappy drums, an electric piano and other low tones, roots the project’s sound in the years preceding it. The simple, organic tones allow the two MC’s to explode with multisyllabic rhyme schemes.
Back in the 90’s hip-hop established itself as a concrete art form with more than enough substance to justify its existence. Artists were creating the music that they wanted to make and more often than not, poetically depicting the harsh lifestyles of the hood or experimenting with lyricism. MC² sort of brings that same core feeling into their music.
The track’s main exhibit is the lyrical proficiency and consciousness of Louis “LQ” Iverson and Keith ”Smeazy” Passmore. Its poetry that can be picked apart and listened to differently each time you hear it. It is made all the more astounding that the track is as eye-opening and as sonically pleasing as just about anything I have ever heard.
They kick direct verses with purpose and urgency. Unlike most artists who commit themselves to saying provocative things, MC² never slips into questionable territory on this song, which conserves a grooving beat.
The advent of the Internet has brought unknown international artists into the public consciousness. Louis “LQ” Iverson and Keith ”Smeazy” Passmore who groove and flow without preachiness, are a prime example of this. Each part of the duo has their own knack for crafting intelligent lyrics.
And even though their lyrical stylings are distinct, their shared sensibilities merge their two styles into a heavy-hitting whole. Music can serve as a catalyst for a discussion. It can spark conversations, while the power of language is on full display.
“It’s ok” ft. Mojo is set to a rolling organic beat with plenty of mellow piano and a deep bass beat that reshuffles itself a whole lot more cleverly than the average loop. This is timeless indie rap – a rare combination.
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