Roc Marciano – Marcberg Album Review

Posted on by Robbie Ettelson

This is Critical Beatdown for 2010. While it doesn’t exactly share any similarities in terms of the beat science presented, Marcberg is a game-changer. Much like the impact of Ultramagnetic MC’s long-awaited debut, you’ve never really heard an album like this before. No guest producers, over-used hooks or any type of traditional song-structure for that matter. This is fourteen cuts of raw flows over minimalistic tracks – only built for real rap connoisseurs.

Marciano delivers a verbal technique that combines a stream-of-consciousness flow with traditional street wisdom, all wrapped-up in a complex labyrinth of flow patterns and cadences. This is the kind of record that sounds like it was made on the artists own terms – no A&R interference or forced collaborations, no pandering to current trends – and it’s all the better for it. Even though previous work with his UN crew featured beats from Large Professor and Pete Rock, it was the tracks he produced himself that knocked the hardest…and he didn’t even own a sampler back then. Now armed with an MPC-2500 and a razor-sharp ear, Roc has really knocked this one out the park. The stripped-down production essentially serves as a platform to showcase the flows on display here – and if you have even a passing familiarity with Marcy’s catalog, then it will be no surprise that he beasts every beat on here.

The previously leaked ‘Snow’ really sets the benchmark here, with cuts like ‘Don Shit’, ‘Real Raw’ and ‘Thugs Prayer’ decimating the competition with line after line of ill imagery, sly boasts and that trademark unorthodox delivery that keeps it in the pocket regardless of the tempo. ‘Jungle Fever’ is the best homage to the ‘rich man’s aspirin’ ever, while ‘Ridin Around’ is the ideal soundtrack to driving while twisted. ‘Panic’ makes you remember why you started messing rap in the first place – that hardcore, sinister anti-social sound that demands to be put on repeat. There’s honestly nothing that you’ll skip or fast-forward on here.

After a long wait, Roc Marciano has achieved a feat that I thought was near impossible in this era – a consistent, cohesive album. A clear vision without any outside interference, executed flawlessly. Casting off the shackles of over-produced melodrama, Marcy has cut his own path through the backwoods of the industry and cemented his place in the legacy of great Long Island lyricists.

Marcberg is out through Fat Beats on 20 April on CD and vinyl EP.

Roc Marciano – The Unkut Interview

33 thoughts on “Roc Marciano – Marcberg Album Review”

  1. You were telling us about Marcberg’s skill from way back and I will admit that I wasn’t a true believer until I heard some of the tracks on this album.

    His rhyming style is brilliant and he doesn’t waste any words. Thug’s Prayer was the realest shit I heard a rapper spit in a long time.

    Thanks for putting me on to this real hardbody rap shit Robbie.

  2. I wish you would assign this a score, like 5 out 5 sawed-off shotties

  3. This is as good as purchased. Thanks for the heads up Robbie. I still can’t believe he produced all these joints. Hopefully he can make a DOOM/Sean Price type of come back.

  4. Yeah we all knew he was the truth since he had been with busta…probably the best mc to touch a mic 90s..to 010

  6. This is what real heads been thirstin for….raw uncut with no faggy club bangers throwin shit off makin me hit the skip button….im ready…big up Marciano

  7. Roc Marcy been nice since he was down wit FlipMode back in 2002. That Un or U Out album was TOUGH!

    AND his beats is crazy!

  8. Oh, hell yes! This will be my first new shit purchase of the year, hopefully not the only one.
    This Marcberg track is fuckin smokin.

  9. Hardbody.. Severely. I can’t get enough of Roc Marcy’s shit… I’m picking this one up, for sure.

    peace

  10. Robbie, that is a bold statement, “Critical Beatdown” for 2010. Based on that assessment, I better check it out.

  12. critical beatdown for 2010? you must be kiddin’…

    ultramag represented sheer innovation back then while roc marciano just goes back to the raw and uncut style of rhymin. do you really think marcberg will make an impact on hip hop similar to critical beatdown?

    nevertheless the leaked tracks sound promising.

  14. @tareq. if it means doing two vinyls it probably becomes too expensive. better an ep than nothing.

  15. As a hip-hop fan I can honestly say that one of prayers has been answered. Now if I could only get a UN follow-up.

  17. i cant wait for this album….it reminds me of when i used to buy hip hop every week and im for sure copping this and will be running joints on my radio show

  19. For some reason I still like his flows over some of the Pete Rock beats and the track they did with Large Pro. It would’ve been cool if he worked with them again but producing his own shit shows his versatility.

    In these days and times there’s hardly any new lps I look out for but I will be waiting for this one.

  20. wah blud, didn’t think i’d ever see this. This is a beautifull thing for the culture.

  24. I dunno about his own production on U.N tracks knocking harder than, say, Game Of Death (the best U.N song, well the 12″ version anyway) or that i see the Critical Beatdown comparison for the same reason Chulee mentioned, but the songs I’ve heard from this are really good.

  25. always thought roc marc was good but basic, still looking forward to hearing this album. Long Island had a bunch of great rhymers that never came out so i’m glad he’s putting in work.

    Trife, you out there?

  27. cant wait for this

    anybody got that new joint roc marc did for the p bros ep? “as long as its real”?

    heres a new joint called “franco” off the dj kryptonite album

    http://www.mediafire.com/?yromonohfmg

    the arch druids shit is gonna be crazy too, this is rocs year

  29. THANX ROBBIE, ANOTHA BANGA DAT I WOULD HAVE NEVA DISCOVERED WITHOUT CHECKIN YA PAGES… UNKUT UPPERCUT!!!

  31. Can’t believe I’ve only just heard of Marciano. I’m not talking shit, I think Marcberg is one of the best hip hop albums in a long time

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