With his highly-anticipated fourth solo-LP, ‘P.T.S.D.’ (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), Pharoahe Monch re-emerges with a new concept project which finds the ground-breaking emcee tackling ‘PTSD’; a severe anxiety disorder that can develop after exposure to any event that results in psychological trauma. Throughout the duration of the LP, Monch narrates as an independent artist weary from the war against the industry machine and through the struggle of the black male experience in America.
Pharoahe Monch is to release ‘P.T.S.D.’ with guest appearances from Black Thought, Talib Kweli, dEnAuN, The Stepkids, Vernon Reid & production from Lee Stone, Marco Polo, Jesse West, The Lion Share & Quelle Chris.
Socially prophetic and politically relevant, ‘Damage’ from the upcoming ‘PTSD’, which has gained raved reviews, continues tochronicle the tragedy of inner city killings and mass murder. Although it was penned before the Dark Knight Theater massacre in Colorado and the Newtown School shootings, the song relevantly accentuates the obvious ongoing gun issue in our society and provides a chilling reminder that bullets have no name. Similarly, a then rough-version of Monch’s protest song, ‘Stand Your Ground,’ was released immediately at Monch’s insistence after the Trayvon Martin verdict was announced and added more discourse on the polarizing debates about racial profiling, civil rights and the inadequacies of the justice system.
While Monch is not afraid to tackle the tough topics, the diversity you come to expect from Monch abounds on ‘P.T.S.D.’, as he is quick to remind everyone that he’s still a “Top 5” emcee on recently released ‘Bad M.F.’ and ‘Rapid Eye Movement’ as he and Black Thought get lucid for a 4-minute exhibition of pure lyricism. Further, Monch addresses the struggle of the hood on ‘The Jungle’; “sometimes we all feel fenced in” and the haunting isolation of addiction on ‘Broken Again’ and the LP’s title track swiftly brings you back to the overall concept of the LP “F*ck you know about struggle, the boy in the plastic bubble, when I drink away the pain I guzzle, my life is like a complicated mathematical puzzle.”
Monch’s longtime collaborator, Lee Stone, returns to the fold to produce four tracks; including ‘Dream’ featuring Talib Kweli and Marco Polo who reunited Monch and Prince Po for a new Organized Konfusion track ‘3-O-Clock’ from his recently released project, chips in three tracks as well. Monch also links up with Mello Music Group’s rising upstart, Quelle Chris, on ‘Scream.’ Further displaying his versatility, Monch collaborates with The Stepkids (Stones Throw Records) on ‘Eht Dnarg Noisulli.’
The project is out on the 4th April this year and from everything we know about the album so far, it could be something quite special.
