Artist: NottzAlbum:

You Need This MusicLabel: Raw KonceptRelease date: October 26 (Today)Rating (Skip, Stream, or Buy): BuyDownload:

“Shine So Bright””Disciples of the boom bap who refuse to let the genre take its last breath, it’s time to wave goodbye to the bullshit and recognize that you need this music, urging the blood to course through its veins again, and rise up, and take control.” So begins the debut studio album from Norfolk, Va. producer/emcee Nottz, aka Dominick Lamb. But don’t think he’s a rookie–the unfairly unknown Nottz is a favorite of legends like Dr. Dre and 9th Wonder, and has played beatmaker for some of hip-hop’s biggest names, from Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes to G-Unit and Kanye West. And with a playful, drawling flow, he seems to mirror Mr. West in more aspects than his transition to the microphone. But unlike ‘Ye, there’s no illusion that rhymes are his primary mode–the instrument-heavy beats are bold and lavish, maintaining an uncanny ability to instantly induce head-bobbing. Guest appearances from the likes of Snoop Dogg, Black Milk, Joell Ortiz, Dwele, Mayer Hawthorne, Asher Roth and Bilal–a long and impressive list–prove that Nottz has the hook up and compliment his beats with a diverse lyrical pool. You might not need this record, but you probably want it.