Tidal WaveTidal Wave is the collaboration of Philly hip hop veterans Adam 12 and Tarp with Panek providing some beats and visuals. I wouldn't be surprised if most of you reading this have never heard of these dudes (though you should've and lord knows the people who hang around my ass have heard Adam 12's "Skeletons" countless times) but it's time to wipe the crust out your eyes and wake up to the truth that is Philly hip hop.
There are 16 flavors of Philly hip hop goodness and there isn't a verse that doesn't resonate within this dudes ears. Adam 12 and Tarp bless the mic about various topics of the day, everything from introspective rhymes to all the fucked up shit in the world around them, whether it be in music or abroad.
The most hype track on this album by far is "Backbone" which features Philly's home town hero Reef The Lost Cauze and Scandal of 40th Dimension (It's only fitting that the track duration is exactly 4:20 and ironically enough the following track, "Gutter Raw" is exactly 4:20 too, raise them L's up!). The best beat on the album goes to the lead single "Had A Ball" which is about all the fun Tarp and 12 have when dropping "Gonzo wisdom". "Get Right" features Doap Nixon and is about the dudes they've seen fall victim to substance abuse because they're trying to escape the hard times of the streets and no lie the drop out at the end of the track sent a chill up my spine. "Words of Wisdom" featuring Burke is about stupid young boys that don't know how to act. "Cowboys and Indians" is an intelligent track about the exploitation of the Native Americans by the hands of the European settlers. "Gimmicks" is a track about the shadiness of the music business. "Stay" has the sexy ass voice of Diana Diablo and usually I don't get down with singing in the hooks but she blessed the track no doubt.
There are no filler beats whatsoever on here, from start to finish this album burns your ears. The great thing about this album is it's got a lot of different flavors that make for one tasty ass mix. You got Panek doing the production for "Get Down", "Cowboys and Indians", "Gimmicks", and the interlude. Stress of Krush Unit/SubHoodz did "Words of Wisdom". Faust did one of the hottest beats on the album in "Higher Power" and he also did "Wide". Lord Lhus did "Crab Kids". The Custodian of Records, who straight killed it with his contributions did the straight banger "Backbone", and the fire that is "Get Right", and "Chain. Caliph did "Gutter Raw". Z A of Innermission 215 did the hot ass single "Had A Ball". Decipher did the track "Come Indulge". The beat for "Stay" was done by some anonymous person that gave them the beat for the Rahmnation Mixtape. And the production for "The Cleansing" was done by Random Beats.
The layout courtesy of the highly gifted Cliff Humphreys aka Panek, is officially one of my favorite layouts ever. It's got a cool "Reefer Madness" vibe, with a quality selection of colors. Tying into the both the duo's name and the album title, downtown Philadelphia is about to get drenched by a huge ass "tidal wave" with three 50's styled characters hanging around a radio in panic. The back of the cover has the aftereffects of the massive wave with downtown Philly looking like a skyline of icebergs. The inside of the booklet has the credits of the songs over a perfectly executed photoshopped picture of city hall emerged under water. On the back of the booklet there is a nice collage of A12 and Tarp hanging out and shit. The CD face looks good with the lifesaver used to display the name of Adam 12 and Tarp.
Rating: 5/5
Songs Worthy of Replay: Backbone, Had A Ball and Higher Power
Synopsis: I've been anticipating this album to drop ever since I heard Adam 12 and Tarp were working together and this shit does not disappoint. Everything is on point; as usual Panek and crew bring the vicious production, Adam 12 never disappoints and Tarp brings the fire for sure, and I'm loving this layout. All true hip hop heads should be all over this, best hip hop album of 2007 so far.