This is the 13th studio LP from Long Island, New York emcee/producer Roc Marciano. Beginning in the very late 90’s as a member of the Flipmode Squad, he then went solo in 2008 to drop classic albums that would pave the way for those like Griselda such as Marcberg & Reloaded. He would begin focusing on producing projects for other artists like Flee Lord & Bronze Nazareth following Mt. Marci & of course returning to enlist The Alchemist to fully produce The Elephant Man’s Bones & The Skeleton Key couple years apart from each other, both of which I gave perfect scores to & the same goes with The Coldest Profession produced by DJ Premier. 5 months later, he’s continuing to prelude Criminal Jazz with 656.
“Trick Bag” begins by sampling funk & jazz commanding thou shall not trick no matter how thick your pockets wind up becoming whereas “Childish Things” hooks up some bare synthesizers talking about achieving the finer stuff in life. “Hate is Love” instrumentally takes a more soulful approach suggesting those who judge should clean their own yards up prior to “Yves St. Moron” talking about his greatness not happening haphazardly.
As for “Prince & Apollonia”, we have Marc carrying over the drumless vibes recalling a guy waiting for his girl in his whip blasting the Prince track “If I Was Your Girlfriend” just before the soulful “Vanity” continues to paint images of the Mafioso lifestyle Roc has become renown for. “Rain Dance” featuring Errol Holden teams up over some vibraphones talking about turning base metals into gold while “Tracey Morgan Vomit” explains you don’t have to be a barber to get your wig parted.
“Trapeze” featuring Errol Holden starts the last leg of 656 with a crooning beat talking about both of them moving perpetually while the chipmunk soul-flavored “Good for You” boasts of him having the ability to steal your aunt & make her his baby mama since he’s been smooth like that. “Easy Bake Oven” continues to sample soul music talking about being the modern day Frank Sinatra & finally, “Melo” sends it all off boasting he’s fucked the same amount of baddies retired NBA forward Carmelo Anthony has.
Not only are we said to be getting Criminal Jazz later on at some point in 2026, but it was also confirmed by Roc Marciano himself that he has another full-length planned for this year called Mt. Magneto & possibly an entire album fully produced by Animoss. And for him to get the new year started, 656. Despite Errol’s guest appearances being merely passable, Marc’s drumlessly jazzy production matched & the mafioso/gangsta themes over the course of a half hour are strong enough to make me want to keep it in rotate.
Score: 9/10