Mic Nickels has been a fixture in underground New York hip-hop for a long time, but "Against The World" might be one of his defining moments. Linking with two certified legends, Rockness Monsta and Rah Digga, the veteran emcee delivers a blistering lyrical display that can serve as an homage to the golden era while also communicating a courageous modernity.
With long-time collaborator Kiza behind the boards, "Against The World" brims with a rough-and-tumble boom-bap production and reminiscent of wearing a crackly old vinyl record. From Nickels' sharp, menacing opener, to Rockness's booming tone, and Rah Digga's ferocity; each verse lands. The trio shows organic chemistry while trusting each other to carry out the important duties of preservation of lyrical integrity, and defiance to fight and survive.
The Jamal Hall-directed video does a great job of reinforcing the track's streetwise DNA. Shot in abandoned warehouses, with steel bridges and subway infrastructure, New York City becomes yet another character, grimy, unfinished and unvarnished in all its ugly glory. The homage to 90s aesthetics is not just a visual representation, but also a philosophical stance. This is rebellious music, that Mic wears like his Bruce Lee hoodie, melding martial discipline with hip-hop ferocity.
"Against The World" is more than just another posse cut, it's a rallying cry for the true hip-hop heads. Mic Nickels takes care of everything and establishes himself as one of the hardest working torch bearers of the scene.
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