Two decades into his career, Poet’s cries are louder than ever and reaching his widest audiences yet. His new The Blaqprint (Year Round Records) was mostly produced by the legendary DJ Premier, who packed locomotive gusto and his signature scratch-heavy hooks into all but two cuts. Between the uncharacteristically vulnerable “Sichuwayshunz” and “Never Goodbye,” a tearjerker dedicated to recently passed Screwball member KL, The Blaqprint is being heralded as a leap to street rap’s proverbial “next level” — a destination that many cats strive for but few actually reach.
“Everybody’s trying to hit lotto,” says Poet. “Not me — my strategy is to search and destroy, and to get it the only way I know I can. This is the same shit I’ve always done. It’s just better, harder, and with him [DJ Premier] all over the motherfucker.”
BLAQ POET + BLACKARGO + GEE.KO | Harpers Ferry, 158 Brighton Ave, Boston | July 9 at 9 pm | $14 | 617.254.9743 or www.harpersferryboston.com
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