For those unfamiliar, Marco Polo is a Toronto-born producer/sound engineer who's been operating out of NYC since the early 2000s. Since relocating, he's helped preserve and define the East Coast's underground sound in a big way, working with artists such as Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Torae, Big Noyd, Sadat X, Boot Camp Clik, Buckshot and many more.
MP's latest project is a sequel to his 2007 album Port Authority, released in via Rawkus and Soulspazm Records. The new album, described as a "Director's Cut", features vocal contributions from a reunited Organized Confusion (Pharoahe Monch and Prince Po), MC Eiht, Talib Kweli, Blaq Poet, Inspectah Deck, King Tee, A.G., Masta Ace, Posdnuos (of De La Soul), Kardinal Offishal and more, with narration from actor Michael Rapaport. It was led by the singles "3-O-Clock" and "G.U.R.U.", a tribute to the deceased Gang Starr emcee.
"I put together an album that I felt picked up where Port Authority left off, but updated it for 2013," Marco Polo stated in a press release. "I'm proud to finally let this album out into the world… At the end of the day, I'm excited with the finished product, which took me five-plus years to create."
PA 2 is scheduled to drop on November 12th. Below, stream the project in full (cop it on iTunes) and watch MP create a beat from scratch using records he purchased while blindfolded, courtesy of Mass Appeal:
[VIA PIMB]