Brooklyn emcee, singer & producer Q-Unique teaming up with Jake Palumbo for his 3rd EP. Emerging as 1/4 of the Arsonists & the lead singer of the 3-man hard rock outfit Stillwill, he’s also built up impressive solo discography for himself since the Uncle Howie Records-backed Vengeance is Mine nearly 2 decades back at this point. He would follow it up the previous decade with Between Heaven & Hell alongside BlaQ Coffee and The Mechanic before Stillwill bassist Fieldy of KoЯn fame to produced his last EP Pound for Pound in full last spring. So hearing Jake was producing Royal Blood, I was just as excited.
“Bad Meaning Good” sets the tone with it’s horn-laced boom bap instrumental to the lyrics looking to shatter dreams like LeBron whereas the rugged “Eye Don’t Sleep” works in strings, kicks & snares talking about being up before the sunrise. “133rd Psalm” takes the soulful route describing how wonderful & pleasant it is when brothers live in harmony just before “Don’t Wanna Wake Up” intricately pays homage to everyone that paved the way for hip hop culture. “Chess Checkers” ruggedly talks about being done running from trouble with blood on his knuckles while “Random Play” keeps it in the basement instrumentally to discuss the street life. “Ingredients” closes the EP by admitting he got that Bruce Banner anger mixed with the love of a ‘60s hippie.
Pound for Pound was received to mixed responses although I felt it was a great comeback for Q & it only made since for Fieldy to hop behind the boards throughout the duration of it. That said, I feel like those who didn’t get a lot out of that previous EP will come away from Royal Blood enjoying a tad bit more. Jake’s production is more rawer in comparison to Q’s Stillwell bandmate & Q himself goes just as aggressive on the mic as last time.
This is the 2nd EP from Brooklyn emcee, singer & producer Q-Unique. Emerging as 1/4 of the Arsonists & the lead singer of the 3-man hard rock outfit Stillwill, he’s also built up impressive solo discography for himself since the Uncle Howie Records-backed Vengeance is Mine nearly 2 decades back at this point. He would follow it up the previous decade with Between Heaven & Hell alongside BlaQ Coffee and The Mechanic, but is returning after nearly 5-years to have Stillwill bassist Fieldy of KoЯn fame to produce Pound for Pound in full.
“Thank You” by Stillwell starts off the EP with a cinematic boom bap instrumental by showing his gratitude the best way possible whereas “I Believe It’s Getting Better” is a opener ballad about a young brother being put on hold. “Torch Them All” is a Bollywood/boom bap hybrid grabbing the automatic from the corner store just before “Free” keeps it in the basement as far as sound goes talking about being imprisoned by his own thoughts. The song “Danger Room” takes a more menacing approach sonically robbing suckas for their bounty while the penultimate track “Blackout” hooks up some synths, kicks & snares being on his kung fu hustle. The ominous closer “Knevil Reeves” ties up the EP making it known that he has plenty of gas left in the tank.
As someone who loved Vengeance is Mine during his adolescence, it’s most certainly safe to say that Pound for Pound will quickly go down as the best EP in Q’s catalog & one of his best solo projects ever. The production that he & Fieldy cook up is the most consistent batch of beats that he’s hopped on top of in a while as the Brooklyn lyricist sounds incredibly-laser focused proving that he’s still got it lyrically after all these decades in the game.
In preparation for his 4th full-length album Pound for Pound coming within the next few months, New York underground veteran Q-Unique taps in Fieldy of KoЯn fame to co-produce the leading single “Knevil Reeves”.
In preparation for his 4th full-length album Pound for Pound coming within the next few months, New York underground veteran Q-Unique taps in Fieldy of KoЯn fame to co-produce the leading single “Knevil Reeves”.
Q-Unique links with ILL BILL in the new video for “Cult Leader & Capital,” a Sicknature-produced track off Q’s “The Mechanic” album. For Arsonists and Non-Phixion fans worldwide, this song is a breath of fresh air knowing these two legendary underground emcees reconnected in 2018.
