Dez & Nobs – Rocky Dennis (Fingerprint Records: 2010)
3.5 out of 5 Potholes
Purchase on Amazon
To many, the names Dez & Nobs may be new, although that is likely to change soon. The promising New York duo is tearing through the underground with vicious raps that twist their way through fascinating, raw production. Following up their 2006 effort, Behemoth, producer Nobs and rapper Dez are set to unveil their latest full-length, the impressive Rocky Dennis (yes, named after the boy with the disfigured face).
Rocky Dennis makes use of liberal sampling, both for musical purposes and amusing skits that bridge from one track to the next. This compositional feel throughout allows for musical diversity while keeping core thematic elements intact. Certain tracks make use of a driving bass line, while other tracks operate around grungy guitar loops. The beats are hard-hitting, reminiscent of hardcore hip-hop from yesteryears.
Dez’s raps match – and often exceed – the confrontational posture of the production. He is quick to fend off any naysayers, using humor, wit and shock tactics to slice and dice any and all opposition. For the most part, it works brilliantly, however the rhymes can err on sloppiness at times, such as on the overly graphic “Ostrich Head”. However, this is followed by the eerie, hallway twins sample from The Shining (fitting because Dez’s real name is Daniel, or Danny) that leads into the album’s awesomely quirky highlight, “Neon”, which features guest vocals from Louis Logic.
At times Dez’s delivery can be drawn out with a lethargic drawl, which actually works against him. Dez is at his best when unleashing faster rhymes that don’t allow him to fall comfortably into a predictable rhyme structure. Although the content of the rhymes sometimes slips into free-association, the energy exuded by both Dez and Nobs is more than enough to sustain the listener’s attention and entertainment throughout the course of the album. Therefore, despite its flaws, Rocky Dennis is ultimately a winner, an album that should leave Dez & Nobs firmly ingrained in the ears of the underground for years to come.
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