A long-standing pillar of the Hali hip-hop scene returns with a slew of bars and beats that intertwine modern topics with a classic approach. The latest release from Tachichi bridges a 30-year gap with its gritty yet stylish production and flow. Gremmy Sip could seamlessly sit amidst the shelves of Music World in 1998 just as easily as it will settle into your Spotify playlist today.
The production is a hard-hitting throwback, heavy use of snare-based beats, piano keys and a sprinkling of horns give that old-school feel while Tachichi and his Black Buffalo Records crew (especially highlighted on the appropriately named tract “Hey Black Buffalo”) take center stage. Tubesocks highlights this effort to “bring flex back” and the accompanying video shows off just as one would expect it to. Album closer “Dead Fresh” also got the video treatment finding Tachichi doing his best Joaquin Phoenix Joker amidst a fittingly sinister beat.
Gremmy Sip serves as equal parts great reminder to familiar fans of his skills and the perfect introduction to any new listeners. New listeners would unironically benefit a lot from the later album track, “Listen,” which gets you up to speed with who he is and what the versatile talent has accomplished. Much of rap and hip hop can divulge into bravado and the braggadocious yet the up-tempo beat and almost sunny atmosphere of the song keeps it perfectly in the jam category. “Interpol Man” then insists you rewind repeatedly as it showcases Tachichi’s rapid-fire delivery as he rattles off line after line precisely and with a real bite to his clever wordplay.
Standout track “Hashtag BLM” serves to spotlight the refreshing and sincere modern stance of the lyrical content on Gremmy Sip. An album of funky yet familiar rhythms saves space for social awareness (the title track also throws in a shutout to gay rights). Tachichi is undoubtedly a pioneer of east coast hip hop, a godfather if you will—yet he continues to grow and progress artistically and intellectually.