K. Sparks - Pick Em Out

Even K. Sparks has his haters, and it’s not hard to Pick Em Out—everybody is, of course, entitled to his or her opinion, but one or two-star ratings on a Manic Mondays record are as incongruous as bird droppings floating in a glass of cognac.  On entry #42 in in his ongoing series, K. Sparks rejoins forces with frequent collaborator Angelous to do what comes naturally: obliterate the critics in an all-out lyrical free-for-all. Sparks’ climactic shift into a double-time flow is the hands-down highlight here, and it’s also proof he’s been paying close attention to certain Booth reviewers’ gripes (I could name names, but I’m feeling nice today).  Mark Henry‘s sampled-brass instrumental provides a fittingly bombastic backdrop for the Rap Saviors’ braggadocio, but might make some wonder if their speakers are functioning correctly—I checked around to make sure, and that distortion is intentional, but it’s definitely debatable whether the effect is fresh or just jarring.  In any case, Sparks and Angelous, are as lyrically on-point as ever, and Pick Em Out is sure to stir up anticipation for the latter’s July contribution to our exclusive freestyle series.