The Song:
“Motown 25,” the first single from eLZhi’s upcoming album The Preface, opens up with a thick n’ heavy beat and a multi-layered weaving of Motown-era samples. The production on the autobiographical track competes for the spotlight with eLZhi’s complex rhymes. The lyrics ooze style and exemplify just how good eLZhi is at what he does. He says, “N****s call me arrogant / That’s because I’m confident.” But with lines as fresh as “Flawless / Should be the very reason you applaud us / You saw us laying down the flow / Just as raw as crawfish,” clearly there is much to brag about. Featuring Da Royce Da 5′9″, best known for his work with Eminem and writing hits for the likes of Dr. Dre and P. Diddy, “Motown 25″ is a triple threat of killer production, collaboration, and lyricism.
The Background:
In the late-nineties, eLZhi made a name for himself by moving his way up through the ranks of Detroit’s underground scene and teaming up with Slum Village for his first big taste of success. He has since been making the rounds, working with local Detroit luminaries such as J Dilla, Waajeed of Platinum Pied Pipers, and Dwele, in addition to a well-received solo tour of Europe during his early years in the game. Hip-hop enthusiasts across the globe consider eLZhi to be one of the most skilled emcees in the entire scene, and bloggers and critics have been trumpeting this sentiment since the release of the last Slum Village album in 2005. With the release of The Preface, eLZhi looks to cement his name amongst the greatest emcees in the game. The 16-track album, produced almost entirely by rising star Black Milk, features guest appearances by a who’s who of the Detroit hip-hop scene. Royce Da 5′9″, T3 (Slum Village), Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, and more add to what many have predicted will be one of the most noteworthy hip-hop releases of 2008. The Preface is in stores now via Fat Beats Records.
