Sometimes things come along that give you hope. This happens every once in a while with hip hop. When everything seems almost stale and predictable someone occasionally breaks out and lets us know that we should still pay attention. After steady making a name for himself in the underground circuit Florida rapper Heretic is back again with the follow up to his classic Campaign For The Thone Vol. 1 mixtape, with of course Vol. 2. Ever since I first heard this kid spit, like most I knew there was something there. However on this one he really exceeded everyone’s expectations.

Heretic seems to be a member of the new breed of rappers. Not particularly sticking to any one style and being more honest than braggadocios. Every line this kid goes hard, showing vulnerability and intelligence that makes you feel like you know him. Blending cocky lyricism with brutal honesty and maturity that is not normal for any rapper these days, much less a 22 year old, Heretic immediately makes you take notice.

Starting off the tape is “Bottom To The Top”. As the title suggests Heretic lets us know his struggles and how far he has come, but yet still has a long way to go. Lines like “I went from putting 5 on pump 2 / to 20 on pump 8 / to putting the card in the machine and not counting what it takes” sets the tone for the record and lets you know Heretic is gonna be coming at you from a different angle. The ability to express both struggle and come up through something as thoughtless as gas purchases is simple, yet effective and potent.  

“Re-Up Freestyle” is just a 3 minute assault of punch lines and metaphors that would make you think your listening to NYC’s newest shit. “Yeah I’m a muhfuckin killa/ Americans call me King Kong, Japs Godzilla/ it really don’t matter a bicoastal monsta/ I’m a rap addict but I don’t need no sponsor”.

About halfway through the CD we start getting to what really separates Heretic from the rest. An ability to relate to the common man is shown on “I Got That”. A stirring song about dreams and what it may take to reach them as Heretic spits vivid bars of his days before the music. “I did my little dirt, even a 9 to5/ I was a busboy ya’ll that shit hurt my pride…”

The self evaluation continues on “Why”, his own take on the classic Jadakiss record in which Heretic digs deep into his own personal life and reveals the flaws in the man. “Why do I call myself a Christian but don’t follow the rules/ and then I pray for forgiveness like my God is a fool”.

Overall this tape is a banger and a breath of fresh air. 20 tracks of some straight up different shit that will make you both laugh and think at the same time, and isn’t that what’s missing from hip hop these days, that balance?  The south got something to say apparently and this kid may be the voice to let it be heard.

Check out his myspace at:
Myspace.com/tony305music and click on the covers below to download the mixtapes.

If he keeps going like this he should reach that throne in no time.