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
X-Pressions cover

X-Pressions

X-Ecutioners
The Listening cover

The Listening

Little Brother
Return of the Mac cover

Return of the Mac

Prodigy, The Alchemist
ATLiens cover

ATLiens

OutKast
Piñata cover

Piñata

Freddie Gibbs, Madlib
Aethiopes cover

Aethiopes

billy woods
Nia cover

Nia

Blackalicious