Guilty Simpson- Ode to the Ghetto

By: Matt Kelly

Released: ((3.25.2008))

Detroit's Guilty Simpson is an odd one. He raps about problems with bitches and hustling in the streets, yet sounds different from the pack. His flow seems simple and boring, but he's a lot more interesting than many other debuting rappers.

What Guilty has that's obvious right from the start is realness. Far from boasting about doubtful homicidal sprees and billion dollar drug deals, his use of gulliness and crime in his rhymes seems authentic and unforced. His delivery may lack surprises but his clear, steady style and forceful voice work. Initially I found him easy to ignore and just checked the production (more on that later) but over time his direct, gimmick free style grew more and more appealing.

"Look at your room, it's a mess
And then you tell me that I can't wear a vest
Why? You got one, beating brothers in the chest with a shotgun
In my pocket asking where I got my knot from
I got a job, like everybody with black faces has gotta rob
Heard you want my ID? It's not a prob
What's two or three cars for, I'm not the mob
I'm just a young rap artist
Do the shit you probably refer to as "that garbage"
Which probably makes me a black target
Which is why I don't like you whole or half hearted
A lot of police, you feel like a thug
When I see the boys in blue, I feel like a Blood"
- Pigs

Fuck the police songs are old news, but Guilty has an easy-to-like everyman perspective mixed with just enough wit and imagery to make it fresh. Though the lyrical content is totally different, his constantly calm mood reminds one of MF Doom. But whether reflecting on his up and down relationship with hilarious 'crazy girlfriend' tracks like She Won't Stay At Home or I Must Love You, or getting gutter on Footwork and Robbery, Guilty shows you can still write good, accessible rhymes on classic topics without sounding stale. He also doesn't waste time- 16 tracks (no skits) in 47 mins is a brisk pace. He drops his rhymes and clears out, making for a disc with little fat.

And what about that production? Well good news for beat fans- Guilty ain't a bad MC but he gets murdered by some of these tracks. Oh No hits it out of the park with his deep, menacing synths on Footwork. Mr Porter's creaky, high strings lend jacking anthem Robbery just the right air of tension. J Dilla serves up yet another posthumous goodie with the appropriately goofy sing-song feel of the humourous I Must Love You. Black Milk's beat on The Real Me is sublime, a beautiful, faded melody lingering behind Guilty's stern voice. Madlib makes The Future one of the best tracks on the record, an almost prog-rock opening switching into a hip-hop beat with the slightly off-kilter atmosphere he's known for.

There's a few spotty tracks- Madlib gets carried away on opener The American Dream, making for a messy beat that doesn't really add up and Kinda Live is a cheesy chick song where Simpsons slows his flow down even further, making for some sleepy stuff.

Overall though, Ode To The Ghetto is stronger than most debuts and if Guilty keeps improving with each release, he could be a problem. If you miss the days when people rapped about the street instead of the club and the trap, or you're a fan of dope beats, check it out.

Favorite Tracks: Robbery and Footwork
What to do (Buy/Try/Frisbee): Buy.
Digits: 8.0 // 10