Artist: 1200
Album: Arsnova
Articulation: King Acklin
The latest review from me as a part of the #DopeTho crew comes on the Arsnova EP from Louisville’s own 1200. Listen man, my 10th review couldn’t have been on a more seemingly high character individual and that’s outside of being a rapper. Jecorey “1200” Arthur is an educator, classically trained musician, activist, award winner, and rapper. This brings me to the EP, Arsnova. Released in earlier this year, the EP gives us about 30 minutes through 7 tracks of 1200 speaking on a lot of real shit.
You get that Black power feeling right out the gate on Legends. 1200 raps about the BS slave history that schools always push down our kids’ throats, the system killing Dr. King and then African Kings. “You don’t have to read about them, you can be them.” Talk about some relatable shit here people. He also raps about kids saying he looked burnt and they were just mad cause his skin is glistening. I almost wish this one was longer, but I treat it as a dope intro. "Gentrification" lets listeners know off top that 1200 is from West Louisville, but don’t think he’s just here to talk about West Louisville. 1200 shouts out Cotter Homes, Southwick, Clarksdale among other black neighborhoods torn down in an attempt at gentrification. We also hear about how the city is now fixing up Portland but according to 1200, “I guess the black side aint important.” Listen man, we know what this is. The black sides of town don’t get any love until they trying to push us out. So like 1200 raps, we need to get together and buy some blocks. Black empowerment is what we need to see and hear.
On "Youth" 1200 raps he couldn’t do sports because he couldn’t catch but you can catch these hands. LOL. The song is basically about how he’s thankful for making it out of his youth and all that comes with that, while being a young black kid out here. Toward the end of this one he’s gives us a soulful blues like feature that closes the track out well, or at least you think its over because 1200 comes back on with a drill like ending for a few seconds. Decades is probably my favorite cut on here. 1200 paints a movie on this one that too many of our black men have gone through or are currently go through. Stress, drugs, jail, down and out, family, money, etc… 1200 spits “I destroyed my family with the choices I made and destroyed other families with the choices I made.” Hard track here.
Bottom line and question of the day; is It Dope Tho? The answer is Yes. Listen now and thank me later... #DopeTho #YouWelcome
Dope Tho Rating: 7
Key Dope:
Legends
Gentrification
Decades
Dope Tho Rating System
1-3 = Nope Tho
4-6 = Decent
7-9 = Dope
10 = Dope Tho Official