Recorded in 2014 between April and July, Summer Ransom is the 10th full length release from Chris Shreve's brainchild Free the Optimus. Mixing a number of tried and true FTO soundscape architects (ILe Flottante, Shep Bryan, Handbook, P.U.R.P.) along with plenty of new connections (Whokairs?, Soul Monk, Dylan Guye) makes for what feels like a new classic in what is already a deep underground catalog. The Professor anchors all 18 tracks with features from Mike L!VE, DJ Jet, Jrusalam, Tuscon, Martin Snoddy and Trapbo' Chad. The album was mixed and mastered by Whokairs? at his studio in Asheville, NC.
C.Shreve describes Summer Ransom as follows:
"A new chapter in the same running dialogue. To Free the Optimus means to unlock your absolute best potential. This FTO installment is both the summer version and the ransom version. I was born in the summer--I want my time. We all want that. I'm claimin mine on some Seinfeld summer of George shit. This is an MC's album. For rappers of all kinds, I want you to listen and feel some type of way. You either gon say go get em, or feel like i'm questioning your dopeness. And I am. If the shoe fits, y'all should wear it. I'm a true fan of the raw MCs out here doing this. I vibe with y'all in the front row. But that fake shit, that fraudulent garbage, nah man. F@ck you. We're takin this thing ransom."
credits
released August 14, 2014
Full album mixed/mastered by Whokairs?
Guest features from Mike L!VE, DJ Jet, Jrusalam, Tuscon, Martin Snoddy, and Trapbo' Chad.
Production from Whokairs?, ILe Flottante, Handbook, Dylan Guye, Good Shepard, Flue, Mikey Kotz, P.U.R.P., Soul Monk, ROMAINNN, Kensh1n, Arthritis, Question, and mtbrd.
A call to action.
We wanted a revolution, but they just ran us around in circles. Here to speak truth, to say what needs
to be said. And the beats are f#@kin bangin.
Do your best.
See the positive. Transform the world.
North Carolina MC Big Pooh tells it like it is, detail for gritty detail, aided by L'Orange, Steve Roxx, and Apollo Brown. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 24, 2015