Slum Village - Dope Man

With Slum Village devotees still reeling in the wake of founding member Baatin‘s untimely death, the surviving members are moving forward with their latest studio album, recorded prior to the tragic event. In anticipation of Villa Manifesto‘s 2010 release via Barak Records, T3, Elzhi and Illa J are dropping a pre-album EP featuring several cuts left off the full-length’s final tracklist, including their latest feature, Dope Man. Backed by Young RJ‘s ominous, densely-layered production, this newly-leaked cut finds the group darkly reflecting on their struggles against inner-city poverty and crime, as well as the stresses of the music game: “The game can get a n*gga confused and f*cked up/ Rap is dope, dope is rap, it’s all f*cked up.” The overarching tone is downbeat and introspective, but there are a few lighter spots – it’s hard not to chuckle at the line, “We’re blowin like the nose of Lindsay Lohan.” If you like what you’re hearing, you can find more new material from Slum Village (the late Baatin included) on their forthcoming digital EP, out December 8.