Sonnyjim – “Coke Le Roc” Prod. by Buckwild (Album Review)
Here we have the 4th studio LP from Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom emcee/producer Sonnyjim. Making his debut in the summer of 2011 with The Psychonaut, he would go on to drop a couple more albums as well as his over a dozen EPs & a mixtape, most notably No Vi$ible Means of Income produced by Giallo Point or the Illinformed produced The Chemistry Must Be Respected & the Leaf Dog-produced How to Tame Lions to a name a few. D.I.T.C. member Buckwild however has been brought in to produce a full-length named after hip hop’s very 1st MC albeit misspelled: Coke La Rock.
“Cherry Red Beamer” sets the tone of what’s to come by hopping over a jazzy boom bap instrumental suggesting to watch out with him around your girl whereas “Double Green” featuring Crimeapple finds the 2 teaming up so they can talk about the gangsta lifestyle. “Free Freedom No Fear” blends a piano sample with some kicks & snares referencing former 7-time WWE world champion, 3-time WWE tag team champion, 5-time WWE United States Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion & 2-time WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart.
The title track hooks up a violin flip to talk about being inspired to write the rhyme of the year if anyone fucks around with him, feeling like this music shit is the only thing he has going for him just before he expresses the love he & Lord Apex have for “The Process” making a reference to WWE Hall of Famer, former 6-time WWE Champion, 2-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, 2-time WWE United States Champion, 5-time WWE Tag Team Champion & NWA World Tag Team Champion Stone Cold Steve Austin.
“$3,500 for Some Fuckin’ Sushi” goes for a jazzier vibe once again talkin’ about going from hustling on the side of the road to globetrotting while “Sugar Ray” references former 2-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. “Yola” takes an eerier boom bap approach instrumentally talking about having more Uncut Gems than the greatest Adam Sandler movie ever made by a landslide leading into “Maserati Rick” combines more kicks & snares with a trumpet sample assuring he’s gonna inevitably blow.
Rounding out 3rd, the song “Big Face Fly Lizard” returns to a grittier sound talking about everyone else performing during the undercard since he’s a main-eventer & the closing track “Frankie Lymon” succeeding the “1520” skit gives a nod to hip hop’s birthplace located at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx, New York sends off Coke Le Roc fusing a soul sample & some keys talking about going from many people doubting him to hopping out of Benz’s after mastering the craft of his art.
Only a couple months since Sonnyjim fully produced the Sauvage EP for Vandal Savage, he & one of the greatest east coast hip hop producers team up to help him make his strongest collection of solo material since probably The Chemistry Must Be Respected & another must-listen for those looking for a gateway to his output. Buckwild’s production combined with Sonny’s luxurious style of songwriting honor the man who paved the way for many others other than DJ Kool Herc himself.
Score: 9/10
