Here is the highly awaited 13th EP from Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. Emerging as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock, he branched out on his own in 2008 following their disbandment beginning with the full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore effort The Proposal. But it’s been safe to say these last couple years have been his biggest so far whether it be the 5 EPs that he put out produced by Nicholas Craven, 7 based around the 7 deadly sins or Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce or even his last couple projects Chaos is My Ladder, Director’s Cut 4 & Deleted Scenes 2. Lavish Misery produced by Harry Fraud was a step above Spare the Rod, Spoil the Child and MadeinTYO producing Smoke & Mirrors last summer was an exciting surprise, but The Reinvention produced by DJ Premier had me as excited The Coldest Profession almost 3 months earlier.
“Amazing Graces” begins with with a gritty piano instrumental talking about his style being so outstanding whereas “A Cut Above” works in some strings hoping that may the best man win lyrically. After the “Rap Radar” interlude, “Chaos is My Ladder” dustily welcomes anyone hoping to reach his level of lyricism while “Forgiveness” talks about going from broke to sipping champagne in Venice.
The song “Survivor’s Remorse” winds down the last few minutes of The Reinvention explaining that fake love always deceives along with the opinion of one not really trying to win if they’ve never taken a loss in their entire lives & the title track sends off the EP by advising those in attendance to prepare for his growth to he seen since they’re already stuck around to see the vengeance.
Representing a meeting of 2 master craftsmen whose fingerprints are woven into the DNA of hip-hop production & another who is recognized by peers & fans alike as one of the best pound-for-pound lyricists alive, The Reinvention showcases Ransom & DJ Premier joining forces to create a transformational musical experience that epitomizes the streetwise mentality realizing the journey’s just as important as the destination.
Score: 9/10