Ransom – “The Price of Clarity” review

I believe this might be the 7th solo LP from Jersey City wordsmith Ransom. Coming up 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. These last several 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, Heavy’s the Head entirely produced by Big Ghost Ltd., the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce, 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 & MadeinTYO producing Smoke & Mirrors last summer was an exciting surprise, coming off The Reinvention produced by DJ Premier & The Uncomfortable Truth produced by Conductor Williams to explain The Price of Clarity.

After the “Ignorance Was Bliss” intro, “The Prime Example” works in some horns to talk about being nothing these caricatures chasing applause whereas “Good Mournings” produced by Mike & Keys soulfully asks why he should go out on a limb for a dumb muhfucka who fed sharks. “Sorry My Love” featuring Nick Grant finds the pair over a chipmunk soul instrumental talking about putting their lives in these raps while “Dr. Manhattan” strips the drums to transcend weak thoughts & fashion trends.

“Richer Prior Life” continues from there discuss washed up artists who be rambling about one potentially becoming musical prodigies just before “Swan Song” speaks of trying to make himself a bride rather than getting along with a woman. “The Boule’” wraps up the 1st half of The Price of Clarity talking about everyone wanting fame until it becomes difficult over a funky beat while “The Temptations gets the 2nd act going discarding all the haters who’ve been despising his God given talents.

Freeway & Young Chris both appear on “The Coldest Winter” providing their own answers to the question of “Where do you go from love?” over a soulful Nicholas Craven instrumental while “MK Ultra” tensely talks about seeing things too clearly. The title track explains there always being a lesson inside our own tragedies while “Circumvention” featuring Lloyd Banks lavishly talks about clapping joyously at the blessing in disguise called pain.

“Hollywood Squares” brings back the soul courtesy of The Heatmakerz recalling what his mother warned him regarding common crooks being portrayed by corny actors & after the “Crystal Clear” interlude, “The Ultimate Betrayal” responds to claims of the devil being a lie wondering what if his greatest trick was the bible wasn’t his. “Confessional Booth” wraps up The Price of Clarity talking about his belief of letting out all the hardships we bottle up.

The general consensus amongst our time’s greatest thinkers & philosophers is that we cannot put a price on clarity, so Ransom comes off the Salvation for the Wicked collaborative EP he did with Boldy James going solo for the first time in 9 months admirably challenging those claims despite not being my favorite thing he’s done. My main critique lies with some of the production falls flat compared to his recent output, but the powerful messaging can’t be ignored.

Score: 3/5

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Ransom – “No Rest for the Wicked” review

Ransom is a 43 year old MC from Jersey City who came up as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock. After their disbandment, he branched out on his own beginning with his 2008 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 & his last EP 7 based around the 7 deadly sins or his previous album Heavy’s the Head produced by Big Ghost Ltd. & the Rome Streetz collab album Coup de Grâce. So given all that, I was very much excited going into his 4th full-length album right here when it was announced a couple weeks back.

“The Hawk” kicks off the album with some heavy horns attacking those who be putting him in a box whereas “Rituals” with 38 Spesh finds the 2 over a joyous trap instrumental talking about being on the deep end trying to swim with no life vest. The Game tags along for the chipmunk soul heavy “Circumstances” produced by the album’s executive producer Nicholas Craven advising “not every friend is loyal, but your wife & kids is dependin’ on you” leading into “Overnight Success” having a more angelic talking about being awoken from the tundra.

Meanwhile on “Compromised”, we have Ransom over some strings calling out those plotting on his demise just before “Makin’ It” takes a soulful route talking about how life what’s you make it. “Redemption” keeps the soul samples coming bringing a light to the dark alley, but then Tyrant comes into the picture for the crooning “Captions” talking about looking good in social media posts & not living half the life.

The song “Imperial Glaciers” with Willie the Kid finds the 2 over these glistening piano melodies into the mix taking shots at the system for malnourishing them while the penultimate track “The Gambler” has more drumless quality to it talking about how he gambled chasing this rap shit. “Beautiful Gravesites” with Black Chakra & J. Arrr ends the album by classily encouraging to bake your own pie compared to everyone else trying to get a slice.

I was honestly expecting him to drop that project with Pete Rock he was talking about last year, but I think No Rest for the Wicked is still a great way to hold everyone over when or if that’s still going to happen. Ransom’s lyricism is some of his most introspective & I like that Nicholas Craven decided to give some shine to some lesser-known producers because I’m very interested in seeing what they all do from hereon out.

Score: 4/5

Ransom – “7” review

Ransom is a 42 year old MC from Jersey City who came up as 1/2 of the short-lived duo A-Team alongside Hitchcock. After their disbandment, he branched out on his own beginning with his 2008 full-length debut Street Cinema & the Statik Selektah-produced sophomore album The Proposal. But it’s safe to say 2020 was his biggest year yet so far, dropping a total of 5 EPs produced entirely by Nicholas Craven & all of them being equally stellar. And now to warm us up for Ransom’s upcoming albums with Rome Streetz as well as Big Ghost Ltd. & Pete Rock respectively, we’re getting a concept EP revolving around the 7 deadly sins.

Craven slides through behind the boards for the soulful opener “Envy” touching down on how jealousy can corrupt oneself whereas V-Don infuses keyboards & dusty boom bap drums on “Gluttony”, where both Ransom & Lloyd Banks mix spiritualism with the street shit they’re known for. Meanwhile on “Greed”, we have Royce da 5’9” tagging along assisting on the theme of selfishness with Lord Sear bringing in some horns into the production before Chup goes into a more rock-tinged sound for the vengeful “Wrath”.

38 Spesh takes things into chipmunk soul territory on “Lust”, which is about how you can see the emotions when your life’s an open book. The penultimate track “Sloth” has a weak verse from J. Arrr at the tail end of it, but I do like the sluggish instrumental as well as Ransom’s lyrics about not letting your master confuse your view. And for the self-produced closer “Pride”, we’re treated to a soul sample much like the opener & a look into egoism.

I knew exactly what I was in for going into this EP & he delivered. Not just because the production is raw yet super diverse, but the concept is executed in a way that feels natural rather than hamfisted or corny. Beyond excited to hear where he’ll take it with Rome, Big Ghost & Pete Rock just before 2021 ends.

Score: 4.5/5