2012 album from Steven T. Shippy, better known by his stage name Prozak, an independent rapper and film director from Saginaw, Michigan. With Paranormal, Prozak takes you on a socially conscious, introspective journey that’s both dark and hopeful – weaving a tale of musical mayhem like only he can do. With tracks like “Until The End”, “The Tell-A-Tale Of Two Hearts” and “Million Miles Away”, along with features from Tech N9ne, Twiztid and Krizz Kaliko, Paranormal will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is a different style album – with more meaning and heart, a dark look into the soul lets say. A few change ups, from heavy metal tracks to slow tracks with great flow. With many releases/videos before the album I was highly anticipating this one. Many songs I will continue to play often.
It starts out with a brief skit (the only one on the whole thing – so if you hate how everyone has a ton of these lately, you’ll appreciate this quick intro and nothing else other then music.)
Prepare for the Worst: Starts with a funky electronic intro with a piano going in the background to make it a nice mellow undertone. Then Prozak comes in with the verse. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. A message that in like most music these days is heavily repeated in this song, however the lyrics and meaning of the track are hammered home with good verses. Good instrumentals and lyrics on this track. Great start for a album that has a lot of meaning that will touch home for many people.
End of Us (Feat DJ Starscream): Harder metal rif on this song. Prozak had this to say about the meaning of the song. “surfacing anger and rage within these current times, the collapse of our economy and the effects of consumerism.” “There are people losing their homes, small business owners going bankrupt, and watching my home state of Michigan rank No. 1 in violent crime and unemployment. Desperate times create desperate measures.” So you can see where hes coming from with this hard hitting track. Even with the metal track, the flow is spot on, and the message is clear.
Tell Tale of Two Hearts: Sad female intro – leading into a track that clearly belongs on a project called Paranormal. Prozak sings this sad track over a nice instrumental, with female hooks and spoken words. He flows from the perspective of a ghost. This ones sure to tug at anyone who’s lost like this. A slow track, that tells a story.
Line in the Middle (Feat. Twiztid): Jamie and Paul with Prozak – do I need to even say anything? A must hear for all the TJF out there. A great message. “On your tombstone there will be two dates, all that matters is that line in the middle”. All 3 bring it over a nice heavy instrumental. As always Jamie’s flow is flawless. Prozak’s hook seems to follow the trend of to much repetition, but that’s to be expected on a track with three rappers spittin. This is one track that has made it into my master playlist.
Farewell: A more mellow track – slower then the previous track and bringing a message about relationships, sure to hit home for many couples, or friends of couples who see some of the shit they go through…. then a surprise twist at the end switching the message up totally. Fitting as arbor day is this time of year.
F*ck You: A paranormal style instrumental – A fuck you track to the Mainstream, Labels, Radio, Haters, etc. Love the slow trippy style instrumental on this, a good flow for a fuck you track.
Perception Deception: Another more heavy, instrumental. “Go to work like a slave, every day, then you die” A track about fitting into the mold of everyday life and lies of being in society. For me this seems more like a local metal band track, and one of my least favorite on the project. Of course this is my opinion of the overall track, the message is good, the instrumental is good. The flow is more of a metal scream.
Enemy (feat. Tech N9ne): Industrial metal instrumental, with a funky underground rap flow. This is one of the tracks that had a pre-release video. The message is great, if you have ever met someone and their vibe was just bunk, easy to tell they where your enemy. Prozak’s versus and hooks are smooth and to the point, laced with content for this track and never off topic. Then Tech comes in and throws down content like only he can.
Wake Up You’re Dead: 3rd heavier track in a row, that mellows into a more funky background while the heavy guitar stays throughout in the forefront. A track that goes well after Enemy as the flow is about fighting, and aggression, it ends with heavy repetition is its one downfall.
Hate: A song about hate, fits right in place with the track order. Instrumental change from the last 3 tracks is a nice change, makes you want to move your head with its familiarity. A track about hate, and how we all have it. Prozak’s flow is at a great pace so you can follow the meaning and words without getting lost, however quick enough not to be dull and boring between the hook which on this song I did not like much.
Until Then: Easily one of my favorite tracks. Has a video out already, the comforting family guitar, with the nice beat laid in. A very mellow flow that Prozak lays down with great vocals. The message just hits home hard for me. This one has been played a lot here since it dropped. The video is perfect for the song. I cant say enough about this one, watch the video:
Million Miles Away: One of the first released tracks and videos off this, it covers a huge list of problems in our society today. You got issues if you can’t get into this track. “If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?” A very nice light beat put in with a mellow instrumental to match the meaning of this one:
Turn Back: Another soft instrumental, that has Prozak’s flow over the top of it, which is a nice mix, easy to listen to, his flow is not drowned out by beats or instruments at all. This is one of the tracks that makes the whole project a good road trip, or lawn mowing, or any other task doing album. It just flows in perfectly. In a day and age where its all about one good song or one good verse, this is a good album.
Full Moon: Instrumental comes in a little louder then the previous track, with a nice steady beat behind it. Prozak’s voice is a little harsher on this one, The lyric is horrorcore, and you can tell your listening to the Hitchcock of Hip Hop on this one. This and the last track have a little less meaning for the masses and more from Prozak’s point of view, but that could just be me, they dont hit home as hard as some of the other tracks. Still a good track, very on par with Enemy yet a lighter note.
One of These Days (Feat. Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko): Starts out with Tech – slower flow on a easy light instrumental. A feel good track about how we all have desires and wishes, and say “One of These Days” It’s another track that makes the whole album flow well. Closes with being thankful for what you got.
Alien: A track that brings to question if this is his last song, what would he want to say. I think we’ve all felt like a Alien in our own skin, plus the flow and lyrics just describe life in general. This is one of the best tracks on the album. It’s another lighter instrumental, has a female “ohhh ahh ohhh” voice that gets a little loud at points almost covering prozak’s hook, but not quite.
In closing, to quote myself the day this dropped (even though this is now a review): “Prozak – Paranormal. Epic. In a day when music comes down to a good song or even a good verse. This is a full blown album. (not a review or promotion here, just a damn fact).” -Hazin
