While New York City is forever the birthplace of hip hop, the past decade or so has been run by other parts of the country. Atlanta is on fire, Chicago is too, and the west coast has been steady dropping jewels for a few years now as well. We can't forget about Houston and Miami as well, who have had a fair share of artists spring up to reach massive heights over the course of the past ten years.
But just because other cities and regions are getting their shine doesn't mean that New York City has fallen off. The Beast Coast movement proves that much. Artists like The Underachievers, Pro Era, and Flatbush Zombies have been making the case that New York's hip hop scene is as healthy as ever. Today we're going to focus on the trio that is the Flatbush Zombies. Comprised of Meechy Darko, Zombie Juice, and Erick "The Architect" Elliott, who serves as the in-house producer for the group. With a few mixtapes, an EP, and some sick features, the group is putting New York back on the map for modern hip hop. Today we dive into their ten essential tracks.
"Thug Waffle"
This was the first video Flatbush Zombies put out, back in 2012. The group celebrates their passion for weed and waffles through the track, which ended up being featured on their mixtape D.R.U.G.S.
A$AP Mob - "Bath Salt" feat. Flatbush ZOMBiES
One of our trio's first big breaks was performing alongside the A$AP Mob on their track "Bath Salt." Meech and Juice lobbed up a couple of dope verses before A$AP Ant and Rocky smashed it out of the park. It stands as an essential track both for the Flatbush Zombies and the A$AP Mob.
"S.C.O.S.A."
If there's one thing you can say about Flatbush Zombies, it's that they aren't afraid to get weird. Meechy Darko proclaims that, "Hip-hop dead, that's cause we here" before juice says that most rappers are liars. These are bold claims from a couple of young guns, but they didn't get to the point their at by playing it safe either.
"MRAZ"
Flatbush Zombies aren't afraid to verbalize their love for drugs. If the name of their debut mixtape wasn't enough, just listen to Meech call himself "Randy Savage on acid" accompanied by trippy visuals and a tasteful little "Mass Appeal" sample.
RZA & Flatbush Zombies - "Just Blowin In The Wind"
When you link up with RZA on the same year you release your debut mixtape, you're doing something right. This track was for The Man with the Iron Fists soundtrack, and carries that cinematic feel over the course of its duration.
"Thugnificense"
Slow beats, LSD, marijuana...These are things we've come to expect from Flatbush Zombies. Before A$AP Rocky brought lysergic acid diethylamide ("L$D") to the VMAs, Flatbush Zombies were reppin' it on "Thugnificense."
"Palm Trees"
Another cut off BetteroffDEAD, and another one produced by Erick The Architect. Meechy calls out the followers right from the get-go:
"It's funny how now rappers be on their druggy shit
Downloaded my tape, sat back, studied shit
Acid pack a hundred hits, shroom caps and hash bricks"
"My Team Supreme 2.0" feat. Bodega Bamz
The slow, druggy vibe is ill, but Flatbush Zombies on a classic boom-bap beat is unreal. The flow and beat on "My Team Supreme 2.0" are next-level, no doubt.
"Did U Ever Think" feat. Joey BadA$$ & Issa Gold
"I love to be alone / I'm comfy in the casket." It's lines like this that help to separate Flatbush Zombies from a culture that is more infatuated with diamond rings and strip clubs. Lyrically it's hard to swallow, but when paired over a jazzy boom-bap beat, it's undeniably dope.
Flatbush Zombies x Trash Talk - "97.92"
It's important to understand that Flatbush Zombies are blowin' up because they're unlike anything else out there. They're not afraid to be different or get weird, so when they link up with thrash-punks Trash Talk, it's another step to differentiate themselves from a culture that rarely crosses over like the Zombies do.
"There's rules to the game, like 'make your own lane'"