Knowledge & Power (2021)

Philmore Greene

Philmore Greene is in a lane of his own. With a major resurgence of 90s-era hip-hop driving an unexpected amount of music today, Greene stands out using intelligence and positivity. In the short five month period between The Survival Scroll and his latest project, Knowledge & Power, Green sounds sharper than ever. With the majority of his record produced by longtime collaborator Rashid Hadee, the duo have found their footing and reset the precedent in boom-bap rap far beyond Chicago city limits.

(Pictured Left: Philmore Greene Right: Rashid Hadee)

“In ‘04, Common told us either focus or fold” -- “Dr. Sebi (Health)”, The Survival Scroll

At the tail end of last year, Philmore Greene released his second studio album, The Survival Scroll. The west-side Chicago native packed his sophomore record with niche hip-hop references, from Common to Raekwon. For context, Common’s quintessential second-coming Be was released in 2004, with lead single, “The Corner”, and contained a line “By the foes I was told, either focus or fold”. Philmore delivers the Be reference following four bars about his life-changing experience of discovering Illmatic as a child. All of these historic namedrops reflect a life spent engrossed in hip-hop culture. Philmore Greene’s classic style is Chicago’s answer to New York’s Griselda collective.

In the early millennium, two early Kanye West records and the Kanye-produced album Be laid the foundation for a large movement within Chicago’s rap community. The sample-heavy soulful tones of these recordings put a positive spin on a city coated in decades of darkness, known only by the media for it’s basketball team and extremely violent neighborhoods. Philmore Greene grew up during the peak of Kanye-inspired rap, and frequently pulls influences from that timeline. His approach to a very different scene as a newcomer from that generation is strategic, and he takes on the challenging role of a teacher while avoiding cliche. 

The golden-era cultural references scattered throughout his records provide a linear connection from his listening habits to his stylistic methods as an MC. Beyond the straightforward references to some of these records, Greene follows the format of pioneering artists that shed light on Chicago two decades ago. His punchline game is swift, but his delivery utilizes a conviction that once again gives nod to Common.

(Video: Philmore Greene freestyles with rapper Valid on Shade45 Radio show “Rap is Outta Control”)

Philmore’s demeanor is tough, intelligent and overwhelmingly inspirational; giving way to a leader that Chicago has desperately needed since Common’s decline in popularity. Tapping into Rashid Hadee’s production skills almost exclusively on his third album was a mutually beneficial power move. Their producer/rapper rapport parallel’s Jordan and Pippen. Hadee’s sound is a balance between the nostalgia of Little Brother-9th Wonder production with heavy influence from a pre-fame Roc-A-Fella Kanye. As Philmore and Hadee’s body of work expands, they have recruited a few other local talents, for example the well-versed Vic Spencer is featured on “Cool Breeze”, an album highlight.

Since his debut, Chicago: A Third World City, Greene has displayed a seasoned ability to deliver quick-witted and boastful punchlines. Knowledge & Power is an appropriate title for his latest effort, and finds the rapper emphasizing both of those virtues in various ways across each track. Unlike on some of his more well-known songs, like “Way Too Focused”, Philmore spends less time asserting his dominance as a master of his craft, and more time spreading social awareness through topics such as financial stability and the importance of family. While his expertise in delivery and lyricism remain a highlight, his third record is more personable. It is packed with more lyrical substance than any of his previous bodies of work.

(Pictured Above: Philmore Greene)

The album opener, “Live from the Hideout”, shares an aesthetic with Jay-Z’s much coveted invite-only annual Roc Nation brunch. With lines like “henny pouring in cups/we praying as we raising ‘em”, it’s easy to picture Greene in a suit next to Nipsey Hussle, Diddy & Jay-Z for a midday photo-op. This record is full of influence from rappers who lead by example, and out of context, it would be hard to differentiate the insightful Chicago rapper from any of these celebrated iconic rappers with strong values and a positive message. “Live from the Hideout” is a snapshot of Philmore celebrating his success and owning adulthood, but a good amount of what follows centers on a perceptive and brilliant MC passing on potentially crucial knowledge.

Beyond the even-keeled feature from Vic Spencer, the other guest appearances on Knowledge & Power are a further testament to Philmore’s passion for hip-hop and the specific subcultures that Chicago has developed a widely recognized reputation for since the late 90’s. “Beautiful Picture 3” features R&B singer Natasha Robinson, whose stunning voice glides over the entire latter half of the track. Mixed with Greene’s uplifting observations on finding the silver lining across his own life, their connection lands with an impact comparable to Lupe Fiasco and Sarah Green on “Real”, the opener from Fiasco’s 2006 debut, Food & Liquor.

“What’s Ya Motivation” is the second time Philmore has turned to New York underground hip-hop legend, Skyzoo. Although he never broke through to mainstream success, Skyzoo’s career is far from over, unlike some closely associated acts from his early years. He’s worked with everyone from DJ Premier to 9th Wonder, with his most recent record, Retropolitan (2019) produced entirely by Pete Rock. Sky is a ‘rapper’s rapper’, and a smart choice for Philmore to continue to work with. “What’s Ya Motivation” is a great example of Greene taking on the responsibility of leadership and focusing on how different priorities can make or break long-term success in any path of life. The hook breaks it down in a simple, yet effective manner, with the rapper pacing himself across lines like “What’s ya motivation/Deeds and equity...bank statements”. This is one of several examples in which Philmore speaks about the importance of lifelong stability through good work ethic. After the second hook, Hadee abruptly shifts the beat as Skyzoo takes the mic, delivering a verse with a sense of experience-based wisdom that provides clarification to the ups and downs of his own career.

(Above: The official video for Greene’s “Nighttime Maneuvers 3”, appearing on The Survival Scroll; dir by Rush Galaxy & Philmore Greene)

Rap is a competitive sport. Philmore Greene is of an era that puts a great amount of weight on being able to rap seamlessly, with punchlines that point to why one MC is better than another. As a fresh face in an old scene, he has set himself apart from many rappers by taking time to inspire his community. In the way he presents himself, it’s clear that he could have been that archetypal battle rapper engaged in the endless pursuit of the crown. But by changing gears and pushing impact alongside skill, he has grown into a potentially game changing figure in a culture that has always been misunderstood. Knowledge & Power is a mature record. It connects the generational gap using influences from a diversity of amazing rap subcultures that have grown and flourished in Chicago since the so-called golden age of hip-hop.

Knowledge & Power is out now — Purchase it here!

©Total Trash Ltd, 2021