There are moments in music when two of the biggest artists in the game join forces to create a classic. Whether it’s Jay & Ye on “Watch The Throne” or Drake and Future on “What A Time To Be Alive”. In my city of the 727 two St.Pete Hip Hop pioneers Crown Marquiss from Local Muzik and Famous Kid Brick from FAF join forces to create the classic “Local Fame”.
At this time in the St.Pete Hip Hop scene Brick was and still to this day was the biggest hit maker in the city, from classics like “I B Rollin” and “I’m On It” just to name a few. Crown and the rest of the Locals was taking over the city in their own right with immortal projects like “Live From The Southside” and the best visuals in the game courtesy of the $GREY GOAT Robert Gallardo. When FAF and Local Muzik come together it’s destined to be one of them ones.
The opening track “Woke Up” is for sure on some Local shit with the beat provided by old school Wiz regular Johnny Juliano. This was a great way to start the project with both Brick and Crown in their bag. Brick really went in on his verse and hook. A dope animation video for this track would have been a vibe back in the day. One of my favorite lines from Crown was “I’m shining like I’m embedded in Crest”!
The self titled track “Local Fame” is definitely one of them ones. I really dug how both Crown and Brick went back to back on the hook and then ripped their verses. This track reminds me of the way Jadakiss and Styles P would spit on a track but if it was on some 727 shit. Dis the anthem, dis the dis the anthem!!!!
“Brief Intermission” has both Brick and Crown on their spitter shit. No hook no bullshit, both of em went so brazy it’s hard to say who went in the hardest. It was a nice touch was how the the track went on the tempo of their flows went faster until the end.
When FAF and Local Muzik get in the building you know they had to do one for the ladies. “Make It Right” was a nice change of pace for the album at this point, after the barrage of bars.
“Sippin” featuring Traxx will still knock in the club to this day. Brick’s hooks always get stuck in your head and you’ll be singing them all at work and shit. Traxx was a really nice addition to the song adding in some streets shit.
“I Do This” is one of them old school dance records. I could see jits now making a jerk or dance video to this one. That tricks line Brick had was bonkers. I love hearing Crown on these more hype tracks it shows how versatile he can be.
“Hands Down” is my shit man. The best part is during like mid verse Crown will just say “Hands Down”. Brick comes through on the end of the track and does his thing. Brick had a cold ass line when he said “These Hoes trusting me and Crown like we running in the election”.
“Bass” is just on some flex shit. When you ride down Central Ave this shit needs to be on full blast so the whole city can feel the bass. Crown always has those wacky lines like “I’m a vampire but I eat garlic” that has you rollin, he’s always been on that abstract shit.
I really enjoyed how Brick and Crown changed up the hook with both of them on “Trickin Off” . This one is sort of like best of both worlds. You get the hard hitting verses from both emcees but then when they come together on the hook it’s still some anthem hype shit.
The final track on the project is produced by the legend himself Lil Keis “R.I.P”. Crown’s flow on “RNS” was brazy. I love the confidence in his delivery, you can really feel he knows he’s one of the best. Brick slowed down his verse as well so we can peep everything he is saying, on some FAF shit.
Almost a decade later and Brick and Crown are still two of the most revered artists not only in Tampa Bay but in the whole game. Local Muzik and FAF til you get annoyed.