Grief Pedigree cover

Grief Pedigree

Ka

Released

Someday it’ll be remarked upon with bewildered awe that a GZA cohort / Brownsville firefighter / producer-MC was able to maintain such a singular career. But you don’t need a hagiographical documentary to pick up on Ka’s strengths — just start with the album that brought them all to the forefront. Grief Pedigree starts a hardworking, subtly self-refining run that builds off Ka’s stark, matter-of-fact delivery and a negative-space-emphasizing production. It’s the hip-hop equivalent of a black-and-white film snapshot that’s more detailed and focused than any 100-megapixel digital photo you’ve ever seen.

Nate Patrin

Recommended by

Suggestions
The Elephant Man’s Bones cover

The Elephant Man’s Bones

Roc Marciano, The Alchemist
Schoolly-D cover

Schoolly-D

Schoolly D
Smell the DA.I.S.Y cover

Smell the DA.I.S.Y

J Dilla, De La Soul
Cheat Codes cover

Cheat Codes

Black Thought, Danger Mouse
Jeanius cover

Jeanius

9th Wonder, Jean Grae
The Mouse and the Mask cover

The Mouse and the Mask

Danger Mouse, MF DOOM, Danger Doom
Tical cover

Tical

Method Man