Ripshop

Following up his critically acclaimed 12’ singles (“Versus” and “FM Mode”) and various appearances, veteran Boston MC Ripshop delivers his full-length debut. This isn’t glamorized gangsta rap; this is the reality rap that N.W.A. and Ice-T made infamous. From brandishing the “hate state” credentials on “Back & Forth” to reflecting on the very next track, “A Betta Day”, the dangerous world that he lives in and the hope for a better day, Ripshop is able to place reality with hope for a better reality right next to each other without losing an ounce of authenticity. The strength of this debut lies in its scope. Rather than focusing on any one side of an issue, Ripshop creates a more realistic presentation by objectively looking at a topic from multiple angles. If there is one track that will grip you, it is “Change”. “Change” isn’t a song lambasting religion but those who use religion as a disguise for actions that have nothing to do with God. Ripshop pleads, “I read the shouts on these MCs’ albums; They thank God first, and then you hear the glocc burst” “I ain’t criticizing anyone’s faith, just lack of action and mad lip service[…]I ain’t sh*ttin’ on faith, I am sh*ttin’ on sh*t that ain’t got nothing to do with God.” The concept behind this song can be used as a template to understand Ripshop’s approach. Pointing out the hypocrisy that exists between what people say and the actions they commit could very well be the reason this Boston MC titled his project Playtimes Over. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.