Pilot Talk - Curren$y (Review)

“Pilot Talk” – Curren$y
In a world of super-commercial, highly glamorized, slick, glossy, overproduced mainstream rap, leave it to a former Lil Wayne protégée and XXL Freshman 10 alum to deliver one of the most authentically funky Hip-Hop albums of 2010. “Pilot Talk” (so titled for the rap that Curren$y makes while indulging in his favorite skyward habit) is a collection of tracks dedicated to Curren$y’s love for…uh…horticulture over solid production mostly from former Jay-Z and Camp Lo collaborator Ski Beatz with Nesby Phips, Monsta Beatz, and even the Mighty Mos Def rounding out the sonic lineup. The guest appearances include Spitta’s fellow perpetual blog favorites (Big K.R.I.T., Smoke DZA, Mikey Rocks, Jay Electronica), crewmates (Trademark da Skydiver, Young Roddy), and even a few Hip-Hop legends show up (Devin the Dude, Snoop Dogg, Mos Def). Save a phoned-in Snoop verse on “Seat Change” and a lackluster Rocks cameo on “The Hangover,” the guest stars work well with each other. But the most notable showing on here comes from none other than Jay ElecYarmulke himself on “The Day” (“Can’t see the forest for the trees? It’s okay. I got my jigsaw and my lumber truck/Tell them boys they run is up”) that steals the spotlight. All in all, Pilot Talk is an impressive debut album that serves as a raw counterpoint to the records that many of his fellow Freshmen (Asher Roth, Kid Cudi, B.o.B, Wale, Mickey Factz) have been releasing in recent years.

Total score: 8/10