Whether it was his appearances on the Wake Up Show over the years, his verses on various Likwit Crew projects, or his own efforts, what has always stood out about Phil Da Agony was the way he his flow would just put the track into a strangle hold: It was as if he was taunting the track, daring it to outshine him and just as soon as he seems to pull things back a little bit, he winds back and hits it even harder than before. With the theme of Agony’s new album evident in the title, Think Green, his focus isn’t just on the hip-hop version of thinking green (money and smoke) but actually improving the environment as well. Without reading too much into this, the environment does directly refer to improving the condition of the Earth, but like most MCs, it also reflects a desire to improve hip-hop’s environment (see the remix of “Think Green”). With Kweli, Krondon, and Jean Grae providing Agony with a lyrical assist, Think Green is very much a Strong Arm Steady/ Blacksmith movement project. The charm of this album is present both in its success at putting ground breaking tracks alongside their staple sounding tracks. For instance, “Think Green” featuring Kweli (and to a certain extent the remix) is the first eco-conscious hip-hop centered track. “Black History” featuring Planet Asia breaks down their own family histories, the struggles they endured, and the sacrifices they made, so others could succeed. Agony might be at his best on this track as he reveals his father was a doctor and how his uncle was never the same after he served in the Vietnam War. His honesty in his homage to his family is an instant classic because it is an image from real life and the struggles that come with it, not an imagined life that over glamorizes many of the luxuries that come with thinking green. Agony has always been a deadly MC and as long as he continues to surround himself with gifted lyricists, his green hued outlook will help him to continue to put a strangle hold on each and every track and album that he drops.

RELATED POSTS:

• Be Green With Shagbags One of the most positive trends of late, being green, has probably taught you by now that reduce/reuse/recycle is cruci...
• Green Day launch their own “Rock Band” From NME: Greenday are to follow in the footsteps of The Beatles by launching their own version of the Rock Band game. ...
• Green Velvet & Kid Sister “Everybody Wants” It’s been a long time since Curtis Jones (Green Velvet/Cashmere) worked with a singer, usually preferring his own ...
• Green Velvet Exclusive Mix For nearly two decade, Curtis Jones has been one of dance music’s most commanding and intriguing personas. First a...
• MP3: U-N-I feat. Talib Kweli – ‘Return’ Inglewood’s next great rap duo teams up with the legendary Talib Kweli for this new track. ‘Return’...