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Marco Polo & Torae
Double Barrel (Duck Down)
By Andrew Rennie

Double Barrel’s opening title track explodes in a barrage of gunshots, cascading piano samples and soulful horns, and the energy keeps up till the very end. Toronto-born producer Marco Polo and Coney Island native Torae prove it’s possible to recreate a gritty 90s New York sound without blatantly emulating the Duck Down blueprint.

Torae’s voice lands somewhere between Sean Price (who appears on Hold Up) and Noreaga, and his balance of quirky wordplay and violent imagery makes him a perfect candidate to carry Duck Down’s torch into a new decade. Cameos by Guilty Simpson, Lil’ Fame, Masta Ace and local hero Saukrates could be a street-rap highlight reel and add pickup incentive to this near-perfect debut.

Top track: Double Barrel

Catch Torae & Marco Polo tonight (Thursday, July 23) at the Opera House.

NOW | July 22-29, 2009 | VOL 28 NO 47
Copyright 2009 NOW Communications
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