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So what’s rockin‚ my speakers? At the moment it’s Philadelphia Slick’s Oil, the second album from the group based out of‚ well‚ Philly. Pretty safe to say unless you’re into underground hip hop or live in Philly area, you haven’t heard of these guys, which is a damn shame.

Are you a fan of The Roots? If so, then you‚re pretty much a Philadelphia Slick fan by default. While the group is very similar in design, a live band lead by a wicked emcee (Noesis), they’re not just some cheap knock off trying to ride coattails. Philadelphia Slick is looking to push the limits musicality by mixing smooth rhymes in their own right.

Standout track Gonna Get Over mixes jazz with hip hop beats and hard hitting drums. If that all those elements don’t get you grooving add in a sick horn section, which is sure to have you nodding along. But it’s not all fun and games, there’s the socially aware Hunt vs. Kill, that includes sound bites of newscasts depicting violent acts in Philly dispersed through Noesis’ rhymes.

Philadelphia Slick’s music is a refreshing change from the current autotune trend, which you all know I’m anti. Having a live band as a backing gives this group the versatility to experiment sonically as well as help continue to extend the argument as to what qualifies as hip hop music these days. While the recorded album is solid, I imagine Philadelphia Slick really shine in the live show.