Now-Again Presents: Madlib, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$ & Ransom - "Knicks" (Remix)
Not entirely unlike his previous rapper-producer efforts – Jaylib, MADVILLAINY, and OJ Simpson – veteran Stones Throw beatsmith Madlib's latest collaboration with Freddie Gibbs (MadGibbs), might be one of his most ambitious, critically-acclaimed projects in years. Madlib and Gibbs rolled out three preemptive annually-released teaser EP's between 2011-13, leading up to their recent [Cocaine] Piñata full-length. "Bittersweet moment: the last @freddiegibbs 'Piñata' related release #Madlib and I will have the honor of releasing on Madlib Invazion. It's been a great ride, and I'm proud of every release," Now-Again founder Egon wrote in a heart-felt Instagram message Monday afternoon; hot on the heels of Madlib & Freddie Gibbs' just announced Knicks Remix EP assisted by XXL Freshmen alumni Action Bronson & Joey Bada$$, along with Brooklyn-based emcee Ransom. Despite "Knicks Remix"'s apparent basketball-referencing title, okayplayer further notes that "the trio respectively warn of the perils of the dimes and nicks game," which I'm assuming is a thinly veiled allusion to drug trade.
"Same night Chris Childs punched Kobe / It was a Sunday, I had the Hyundai / Then I crashed it, leather jacket like Slash did / Face melted off like acid," Bronson ferociously raps in his newly-appended 16 bar second verse, which additionally includes effortless references to Christopher Lloyd, Downtown Julie Brown, Mike Tyson, Don Johnson, Little Richard, and of course, "rosemary on the strip [pork] loin." It's really an excellent coast-to-coast posse cut, but Action Bronson is the undeniable Rap super-star here; while Egon confirmed, as I expected, that they were never actually all in the SAME studio... it's pretty awesome that Bronson was able to rhyme atop a hand-crafted Madlib beat! Their freshly-pressed 6-track Knicks Remix EP is now available for pre-order on Madlib Invazion via Rappcats, which they expect will start shipping around Halloween and will become available world-wide soon thereafter on November 18th.