I’ve been going back and forth on different articles to write and I was thinking about one on Jack Harlow and then possibly a 2 Chainz blog, and then finally, a Kota the Friend story. The more I thought about all 3 I decided the best course of action was to combine all 3 and just focus on Statik Selektah as the story since he works with all 3 of the artists. Statik Selektah is one of the best producers in the game and his beats have been playing in my headphones for the last 10 years. Statik signed a management deal with Roc Nation a few years ago so I’m happy getting what he deserves in the music industry. Statik just dropped an album with indie rap star KOTA the Friend called To Kill a Sunrise and the album is dope.
As for how I first heard of Statik, I’m pretty sure it was his collab with Action Bronson on the Well Done album. He had been putting in work well before this but I was digging Bronson since his track “Brunch” in 2011. I downloaded the album and from the very first song I knew I was in for something special. Here’s “Respect the Mustache.”
Statik’s beats and Bronson’s bars made for such a good pairing. But then I heard “82 92” which featured Mac Miller and Termanology going back and forth with a friendly flow battle. Mac is one of my favorite rappers of all time but that first Term verse on the track is next level cadence. He’s rapping over the beat and his flow becomes an additional instrument layered on the track. It reminds me of a saxophone solo from an obscure savant musician that nobody knows about. I can’t stress how hard it is to perfect a flow like this and I’m not even an emcee. Here it is…. “82 92” and the Term verse comes in at 1:05. Pure brilliance.
Term is another one of those rappers that I know I need to find the time to get into and I’ll get there one day. After this track dropped I was looking forward to any Statik Selektah tracks I could get my hands on. Freddie Gibbs and Statik linked up for an EP called Lord Giveth, Lord Taketh Away in 2012. The final track of the EP was my favorite and the beautiful beat gives Gangsta Gibbs, Smoke DZA, and Chace Infinite (slept on btw) the soundscape they need to come correct. Here’s “Keep It Warm For Ya” with a choppy Gibbs flow that he has perfected over the years.
In 2013, Statik dropped the Extended Play album and I don’t even know where to start on this one. As a kid, I always loved movie soundtracks and compilations because they gave me a mix of a bunch of different artists on the same album. Statik perfected that formula on steroids with this album. As I look through that album right now, I think “Pinky Ring” from Prodigy is the one I’m most feeling in 2021. Ask me tomorrow and I’ll probably tell you it’s “The Spark” but right now it’s “Pinky Ring” so here it is. Don’t even know how to describe this beat. It’s that ill!
2014 brought us a dope loosie on the “To The Max” track with Ab-Soul. Did this ever end up on an album? Soulo and Statik would be so fresh on a whole album together. I’ve always liked Ab-Soul and I feel he’s cooking something up on the low. TDE as a whole has been very quiet lately. Ready for something to bubble out of the camp. Seems like Ab-Soul should be in album mode right? And what’s up with Isaiah Rashad’s album? Been waiting on that one for a minute!
Also in 2014, Statik laced us with the What Goes Around album which had a flames B-Real verse. B-Real’s voice hasn’t aged one bit over the years and hearing him with Statik is refreshing. Wouldn’t mind an EP from these two. I don’t know much about JFK but he definitely holds his own on one of the standout tracks from the album.
2015 came along which featured what is probably my favorite Statik tracks which is “Curry Chicken” with Joey Bada$$. Statik and Joey have worked together a ton but this one right here just hit it out the park for me. Not sure how many times I’ve listened to this track but I’m going to say well over 100. And anytime I grab some Indian food you know what track I’m bumpin’ on the way. Joey’s lyrics on this song motivate me to hustle harder in everything I do.
Statik dropped his Lucky 7 album in 2015 and he brought his normal posse with him with Bronson, Joey, and Term. But when I saw Royce Da 5’9” on the tracklisting I knew what song I was hitting up first. Royce is one of my most underrated lyricists of all time. How many dope tracks and albums does he have to drop until he finally gets the respect he deserves? Oh well…. I’m not sleeping. Here’s “Crystal Clear” from Statik and Royce.
In 2016, Statik surprised me with a track with 2 Chainz called “Smoke Break.” It was up on the DSP’s for a minute but it seemed to have vanished years ago. Statik and 2 Chainz had been working on an album and it seemed like it was actually happening so here’s hoping the album sees the light of day. Statik hustles. 2 Chainz hustles. The project will eventually drop. I feel it.
Statik’s album 8 dropped in 2017 and it represented my first introduction to Conway the Machine, Westside Gunn, and the Griselda crew. When I hear their song “08,” I feel it’s the sequel to Jake One’s “White Van” track with Alchemist, Evidence, and Prodigy. Anybody else feelin that statement? Album 8 was solid from front to back but let’s be real, when does Statik let his audience down? Never?
Skipping over 2018 but don’t you worry, 2019 has several tracks I have to list out. Can’t have a Statik article and not include an instrumental and “Tropic Lights” is his best instrumental in my opinion. I hear this beat and am taken right to the beaches of Maui where Statik boogie boards on these instruments. From his Mahalo album. Fire.
TrillStatik linked Statik and Bun B up for a full album. Bun B is a legend of the game going way back to the UGK days and it’s amazing to me to see how he’s stayed so consistent all of these years. Really good trio on this track with Big K.R.I.T. and Talib Kweli. I feel like all of the rappers I mention need full albums with Statik! That’s how dope he is behind the boards.
I wish you could have seen the smile on my face when I first heard that Curren$y and Statik had an album dropping. If you’ve read any of my articles on this site, you already know that Curren$y is one of my favorite rappers. On Gran Turismo, Curren$y rides the Statik waves into shore with a top to bottom solid album. Curren$y is just like Bun B as he never slows down. The work ethic is amazing. Here’s “Theme Music” off of the 2019 album.
Damn…. Statik was busy in 2019! His collab with Paul Wall surprised me yet again as I hadn’t heard Paul Wall’s name in a minute. And there was a track with Benny the Butcher and Paul Wall the Champ?! Yup… I can get down with that. Benny never phones in a verse and Paul Wall steps up to the plate as well. Some good chipmunk soul sampling by Statik on this track. Here’s “OverCame” in case you haven’t heard it.
Last year Statik dropped The Balancing Act which once again came with amazing features and countless tracks to bump. But there was no question what song I should include off of the release. Statik and Jack Harlow on “Time” is everything I’m looking for in a hip hop track nowadays. I knew of Jack Harlow from a few tracks but this one right here told me that I needed to pay more attention of the youngster from Kentucky. Have you all heard “Keep It Light?” If not, stop what you’re doing and hit that link because it’s major.
This year we’ve just about made it through March and Statik is dropping tracks left and right. I really liked the “Let It Breathe” track he did with Joey Bada$$ earlier this year. Joey has been dropping some singles lately so I have to imagine he will have an album dropping sometime soon. One can only hope right? Joey and Statik always come with heat and this song is no exception.
Alright…. That was the last 10 years of my favorite Statik tracks. A week ago he dropped an album with KOTA the Friend that is really growing on me. I say that because I’m used to hearing KOTA on some super lofi beats so I had to get out of that train of thought and let Statik provide with with instrumentals to rip. I’m really liking the To Kill a Sunrise album and it will be getting a lot of play from me as we inch closer to summer. If you haven’t peeped it yet, give it a whirl. It doesn’t disappoint. Here’s the opening track “Wolves” which sets the album off nicely.
My ears will always give Statik a listen. He has so much material that it’s hard to keep up! I’m sure there are lots of songs before 2011 that I’m sleeping in so it looks like this morning I’m about to go down a YouTube rabbit hole to see what I can dig up. Check below for a Statik playlist I put together on Spotify. I’ll keep adding to this to make sure it’s current. Props to Statik Selektah! Keep knocking out the dope beats and hustling homie!