Ransom is known in the underground Hip-Hop scene as a true lyrical spartan. The Brooklyn MC has a discography that is filled with dark, nihilistic lyrics that are both impressive and spine-chilling.
Ransom continued his verbal rampage on his latest project, No Rest for the Wicked. The album features 11 tracks for a runtime around 40 minutes. The 40 minutes features production from multiple producers, including Nicholas Craven, Tyrant, Streezy and several others. While his beat selection is not known for its diversity, it certainly fits his rap style like a glove. The beats feature beautiful soul sample loops, which amplifies the emotion from his lyrics.
Let’s get it out of the way—there are zero wasted bars on the project. Ransom’s bars are on a level that not many MC’s can touch. His wordplay is on another planet and can leave even his biggest critics baffled. On “Compromised,” he uses an absurd rhyme scheme that nearly lasts half of the verse.
“I was told by Hov to finish your food, is this really too much to digest?
Life is a crap table, and the reaper’s making his side bets
I digress, It’s ’bout progress if you tryna stop death
I sidestep, I ain’t dancin’ with Satan like Lil Nas X, do not guess
How you project when you from the projects? Wait, not yet
Too much information for you to process, who got next?
This goofy prospect who think he ‘Pac? Check
Too concerned with his fashion, I wonder, who should he mock next? Do not rest
They thought I was finished, but I had a lot left
Every bar’s like a bullet, when I pull it, this shit gon’ stop breath
They whisper ’bout me like I’m Loch Ness
An underground monster who ain’t made it to the top yet
You can’t compare a square to a animal or block vet
You can’t compare my peers to a cannibal who chop flesh”
On the same track, he mentions a beautiful hypocrisy in Hip-Hop, rapping “I know some n***** that worship Hov and recite “Ether”. Both references are just minor examples of the lyrical brilliance that Ransom flaunts on every track.
The substance of his lyrics contains lessons learned from growing older and obtaining wisdom, past experiences and light doses of drug dealing tales. While I mentioned earlier that he is known for having darker lyrics, No Rest for the Wicked is a much more tamed Ransom, that mainly reflects what he learned in hindsight of his past, which additionally include themes of parenthood, taking time to develop a rap career and teaching the next generation from his mistakes. The diverse subject matters give a fresh sound to verses.
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Being a feature on a Ransom project is no small task. When jumping on a track with him, you must bring your A-game, or you will get eaten alive. Luckily, every rapper that accepted that tall task rose to the occasion. The features include 38 Spesh, The Game, Tyrant, Willie the Kid, J. Arrr & Black Chakra. Each verse delivered from the listed rappers are directly on par with Ransom’s skills.
Ransom is in a beautiful spot. He is widely respected in the underground realm of Hip-Hop and does not face the pressure to diversify his sound, which typically derives from obtaining a new, mainstream fan base. Ransom fans want to hear him get on a track and rap his ass off at all costs. If No Rest for the Wicked is any indication of what we can expect from Ransom, then he will only continue to make fans happy.
Check out the full album right here and be sure to follow Ransom on Instagram and Twitter for more on what’s to come from the underground giant. You can also listen to our official Daily Bread playlist which includes songs from Ransom and many others.