Ever since his days of working with storied groups such as The Breakfast Club and 925 Colony, Elzhi has been considered one of Detroit’s top-tier lyricists. His flawless technique—the deft beat-riding ability, complex internal rhyme schemes, the metaphor- and simile-stacked verses—has earned him the respect of Hip Hop heads everywhere, and his female-friendly verses have helped Slum maintain a rapport with the fairer sex as well. The problem is, Elzhi’s music hasn’t always been very accessible: though Slum Village’s albums have consistently been in stores, much of Elzhi’s music has been released with small runs and limited distribution, forcing fans to scour eBay and message boards to satisfy their fixes.
But this summer, Elzhi has finally released The Preface. Weighing in at 16 tracks and one hour long, the album has punchline-heavy bars, conceptual gems, panty-wetters, and cohesive narratives—everything that an Elzhi fan would expect after waiting this long for a proper debut. In an interview with MichiganHipHop.com, Elzhi gives insight into the construction of the disc, recounts his past and present roles in Slum Village, and the importance of showing his artistic dimensions. Continue reading →
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