I always respect artists who have a great work ethic and pump out quality material. Not many artists can do this over a long stretch of time because priorities change in life and some lose that inspiration that once drove them to be so creative in the first place. Some also get their first check in the rap game and then start chasing paper instead of staying in the lane that originally made them blow up in the first place. I can’t say I blame them either. I was lucky to grow up with the things I needed but some of these guys were raised with nothing so the second they have a chance to change that for themselves and their families they are going for it. This can compromise your artistic integrity so there are a few in the game who say no to the quick buck and continue making music on their terms. Curren$y out of New Orleans to me is that guy.
If you’re reading this far the chances are that you already know Curren$y. But did you know that he was signed to No Limit Records in 2002? Did you know he was signed to Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment in 2004? Curren$y has been out here hustling for close to 20 years. He is respected by all in the industry and seems to drop 5 or 6 albums per year. And you know what? Each of those albums at least has 1 or 2 bangers. Discogs says that Spitta has over 50 releases under his belt. He has worked with the best of the best in the game too. He has collaborated rappers like with Wiz, 2Chainz, Rick Ross, Weezy, Snoop, Devin the Dude, Mos Def, Kendrick, Jay Electronica, Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, E-40, Joey Bada$$, Pharrell, Daz, and many more. Curren$y has always had a great ear for beats too. He has released mixtapes, EP’s, and LP’s with producers like Ski Beatz, The Alchemist, Harry Fraud, and Statik Selektah just to name a few. But for every mega producer like I just listed, there are also the beatmakers he always seems to get the best beats from. Listen to “Stove Top” produced by Cookin’ Soul off of the brilliant “The Drive In Theatre” mixtape.
Curren$y is one of my favorite rappers because of the vibe he has consistently he has had in his music for over 15 years. He seems to find that Guru-Preme rapper-producer connection with almost every producer he works with which is unparalleled in the rap game by a solo artist. Of all of the producers Spitta has worked with, it’s his Pilot Talk albums that I feel are his best. Ski Beatz is so damn slept on and that goes back to his work with Jay and Camp Lo in the mid90s. Ski is like the MF Doom to the mainstream behind the boards. And when Curren$y has some Ski Beatz production he spits some lyrics that sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention. My favorite song from Spitta is “Airborne Aquarium” off of Pilot Talk 2. Ski handled all of the production on Pilot Talk 2. Now press play on this below, close your eyes, and take off a on flight from Spitta and Ski Beatz.
I’m having a hard time stopping this essay on Curren$y so I’ll include one more track from him. If any of you know me, you know that The Alchemist is one of my favorite producers of all time. ALC has been putting it down for years and will get his own story from me in the very near future. But did you think that Alchemist and Spitta could work so well together? That Covert Coup mixtape was so fire. And the album with Al on the beats, Curren$y, and Gangsta Gibbs? Damn… So slept on. Here’s “Smoke Break” off of the Covert Coup mixtape. JET LIFE!