yak-balls-true.mp3 Yak Ballz - True City Killerz
Words: Idris Intifada
“To all you ball squeezers on the internet, bootlegging tapes, fuck you”, Bobbito pronounced as he introduced Yak Ballz’s “True City Killerz” on 89.9’s famous CM Familam radio program.Ironically, it would be ripped for the internet by DJ Negative Props who allowed those outside of the New York metro area to hear the song that was capturing the essence of the second generation of the indie hip-hop scene in the city…
Over a sinister beat supplied by Mondee, Yak describes the exploits of his graffiti/social crew TCK in a late ‘90s New York City that “breeds razorblade swordsmen”. Clad in Northface jackets, TCK members at that time were not only involved in graffiti but were making their presence felt on underground hip-hop college radio, at indie rap shows, and even employed at Bobbito’s Footwork. In a still gritty NYC, TCK carried the torch for the independent hip-hop scene that began in the mid-‘90s.
New York City has changed a great deal since “True City Killerz” hit the airwaves; everyone wears Northface, art school hipsters rep graffiti, and independent hip-hop no longer has the same force. Rappers have often been unable to adapt to changes but Yak gracefully switched the style up for his 2006 release Scifenology, a mix CD put out by the clothing company Scifen. Yak’s lyrics became more introspective and the beats changed on Scifenotology by relying heavily on rock samples.
On January 29th, Yak is set to release a full-length follow up to the mix CD, Scifentology II on Flospot Records On the first track “Blind Faith”, Yak continues to explore the use of rock samples and kicks abstract verse to a guitar rich with feedback. Mondee, who produced three songs on album, puts together a neck-jerking bassline for Yak to display a surrealist word barrage on “YBTV”. Adept, Chapter 7, Govone, Chris Maestro, and Yak’s fellow Weatherman Aesop Rock and Camu Tao also contribute to the production on Scifentology II. Cage, who has also made a recent style update, lends a verse to the dystopian “New Communication”. Tame 1, Peter Toh and Slow Suicide also make guest appearances on the album. And with all the changes, through raw lyrics and graffiti inspired album art by Ewok-One, Yak holds fast to the era he originated.
