Miami-based emcee Ne$$ & Derby, UK-based producer Baby J drop their new gripping concept album THE PRICE OF BREAD, via TheSystemDontWork Records

Following up their critically acclaimed 2020 collaborative project ‘21st Century Blues’, RBG rapper NE$$ (previously featured in The Source’s ‘Unsigned Hype’) and UK producer Baby J (known for collaborations with Skinny Man, Mark Ronson, Dead Prez, Iman Thug, and Shabazz The Disciple of the Wu-Tang) return with ‘The Price of Bread’, a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.

Housing previous support from Earmilk, Notion, KISS FM UK (MK), Viper Magazine, and Wordplay Magazine, ‘The Price of Bread’ serves as a groundbreaking concept album that dives deep into the lived experiences of oppressed communities navigating the harsh realities of capitalism.

The term ‘The Price of Bread’, often referring to the state of inflation at any given time, is an ideal title for an album exploring these themes in a time when inflation is at the highest rate it’s been in decades. In true Hip Hop form the word ‘Bread, slang for money, transforms the title into a paradoxical double entendre ‘The Price of Money’.

In this context, the album fearlessly poses a poignant question:

“What is the cost of money, or to put it plainly, what does it cost us to make money, to navigate capitalism?”

Doubling down on this concept, the album’s tracklist is a veritable anthology of money-themed titles (Sell Our Pain, Human Capital, Stripper Money, etc.), each serving as a chapter in a larger narrative.

Baby J weaves a broken, lo-fi, and slightly out-of-tune dystopian soundscape that resonates like the echoes of dusty, long-forgotten 60s records, but what’s astounding is that no samples were used in creating this haunting and mesmerizing atmosphere. This unique auditory canvas allows the listener to immerse themselves fully in the stories and emotions presented in this album and sets the stage for NE$$’s storytelling and lyricism to paint vivid pictures of lumpenproletariat life.

Known for his work with Brooklyn duo Weekend Money and Dead Prez-affiliated Rap group A-Alikes, the seasoned Hip Hop veteran takes center stage as a modern-day griot on this opus. His lyrics peel back layers to reveal a world where every dollar counts and every decision can be a matter of life and death.

The album flaunts an impressive tracklist, graced by a carefully curated roster of guest appearances, with standout songs ‘Sell Our Pain’, the aforementioned ‘Stripper Money’ featuring Conway The Machine, and ‘Illegal Business’ featuring RBG comrades Coach NYM & Rukus ‘Vice Grip’ featuring Houston rapper Fat Tony, among other gems.

NE$$ and Baby J invite you to join them on this evocative journey, offering a unique perspective on the world we live in, the price we pay, and the hope we hold.

Ne$$ x Baby J – The Price Of Bread via Spotify

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