Flatbasset Radio's Album Of The Week for the week of June 2nd-June 8th, 2014:
F. Stokes - Liquor Sto' Diaries
01. Caps
02. Can't Call It
03. Summer Coldest
04. Gots To Save You
First thing's first, sorry I'm late with this post. I typically try to get these posted at the beginning of the week, well before I've had a chance to spend the week with the album. However, I was busy this week. If these posts had any consistent viewers I'd feel pretty bad, but they don't so, meh...
Anyway, I had the pleasure of spending the week with Liquor Sto' Diaries, a surprise free EP from New York by way of Madison by way of Chicago MC F. Stokes.
You know I like to stay Minnesota with my AOTW picks, but F. Stokes is essentially Minnesotan at this point. His Midwestern roots are clear, with Chicago being home and regular stops back in Madison. His best known album (I think) is Death Of A Handsome Bride, a nine song record produced by Doomtree's Lazerbeak. That album is consistently excellent from front-to-back, showcasing Stokes' ability to be both serious & playful, innovative & classic all in the same breath.
Liquor Sto' Diaries spins more of the same stories. Stokes reminisces about the good times growing up in Chicacgo and the hard times of becoming a man in Chicago, all in a voice that shows he's grateful for both experiences. For production, Stokes turned back to his friends in Doomtree. Lazerbeak turns up to bookend the album. Both "Caps" and "Gots To Save You" ride Beak's patented rich, soulful beats. Paper Tiger turns up to provide the beat for "Can't Call It" and "Summer Coldest." Both of these stay away from the expansive sounds of Paper Tiger's solo work and hue more closely to his excellent Beat Tape. F. Stokes is a thoroughly enjoyable MC in his own right, but pairing him with these beats is just ridiculous.
Anyway, the album's available as a free download over at the Potholes Music Bandcamp page. Go download it and let it soundtrack your strolls to the liquor store this summer.
