Beware of Gods'illa - The DMV's Best Kept Secret

"I do it for love, and they do it for dough...rhyme like a clock with no hands, straight timeless." With these lines spoken through the speakers you know that you're in for something different when you play any of Gods'illa tracks. But before I get ahead of myself let me give you some background on the group that is sure to be crowned the DMV's best kept secret.

Gods'illa is more than a group, it's a movement of great minds that concentrate on keeping the music rooted in reality. The group consists of three physical brothers, Ace, 7-1-20, and Powerful, with them all hailing from PG County, MD and Brooklyn, NY respectively. They are fresh from placing first in the July 2009 MTV VMA Breakout DC Competition. Many of you may be familiar with the brothers and their clothing company Up and Up Fashions that was started in 1998, and those of you that know them know Up and Up stretched way beyond clothes. And just like the clothing company, the music they put out breaks the barriers of any box that you may try to limit them to with the group members collectively labeling their sound as "universal." Their debut is being primed for release on independent label Unlimited Vinyl Ink very soon, but before they present their first offering they have given real headphone junkies something they'll crave in the form of The Pre-Lease. I would give you a hip-hop group to compare them to, but in all honesty it would be quite disrespectful to do so. 

The lyrics, beats and production on the Pre-Lease take me back to when I was a kid stealing cassette tapes from my older cousin. He would 

constantly try to tell me what "real" hip-hop was and he consistently introduced my ears to music that was clearly distinguishable from the garbage he said was being played on the radio. Groups like Black Moon, Brand Nubian, and The Native Tongues were just a few that I can think of, and some of the ones that Gods'illa reminds of. And I say reminiscent in a way that makes you recall a time when lyrics had depth and albums consisted of cohesive tracks that didn't sway to far in either arena of gangsta or backpack rap, but found that sometimes unattainable balance that allows you to just enjoy good music and nod your head along to entire album without skipping past any songs. 

I know for myself I've grown tired of recent hip-hop music

 that has been put out, and refuse to buy any new CDs. But after giving a listen to Gods'illa's Pre-Lease which is a compilation of 7 tracks that didn't make the cut for the group's debut, I can say that I'll be back to purchasing at least one new CD in the near future. Because if these were the ones that didnt make it, you gotta know its nothing but quality coming later. 

One of my favorite cuts is, "Got Ya'll," where the varying styles manage to balance each other out, and youngest member Powerful closes it out strong, displaying his lyrical prowess that would dare you to label him a rookie. Another one is, "Power Cypha," which gives you the feel of a posse cut of all your favorite emcees that you been waiting for to all get on the same joint. Last but not least is "Up and Up Presents...Gods'illa," which is a bunch of snippets put together with the first snippet asking, "Who is Gods'illa?" And if you don't know then you need to get familiar. I could go on about the tracks but you need to review it for yourself. 

So go and download your copy of the Pre-Lease and be sure to cop their debut when it drops. And if you don't think that Gods'illa is one of the freshest things to happen in hip-hop, then you need to ask yourself if you are really a fan of the genre...just food for thought. 

Track List

1. Intro (Truth Unleashed)

2. Got Ya'll

3. Should Know Better ft. Uno

4. Power Cypha ft. Faro-Z and Substantial

5. I'm Here ft. Substantial and Kokayi

6. Feel ft. DuaneFace

7. Up and Up Presents...Gods'illa