Respecta.is - The Ultimate Hip Hop Portal

The idea for what has now become The Fifth Tape was rooted in humble and sincere beginnings. I had only one simple intention when starting to formulate this LP back in 2014: To create an album of music that I could personally be proud of. A project consisting of my close friends and acquaintances throughout New York who I so passionately believed in, alongside other artists of the culture who I consider to be some of the best in the game right now. I wanted to create a piece of music that could serve as a tribute to a culture that has provided me with so much guidance, wisdom, and purpose throughout my life. An offering to the Spirit of Hip-Hop in the hopes that I could somehow contribute something valuable to this incredible art form. And although I would have never imagined the journey the undertaking of this project would take me on over these past 5 years, I am proud to say that I love what this project has turned into and the innumerable lessons it has provided to me. This project is a reflection of how I view Hip Hop at this point in time. An accurate portrayal of some of my favorite styles, approaches, and sounds that these artists have to offer. The Fifth Tape is a sonic journey not merely focusing on my own personal growth, but the growth and expansion of all of the artists featured on this detailed album. With majority of the production crafted by my Brother Blank Noriega, this album rings true to a specific sound within this culture that not too many others are attempting to uphold anymore. A project that embraces a changing industry and passes the torch to those who are up next, while placing importance on paying respect to the roots of this global phenomena we call Hip-Hop