Sic Sense "Positional Bypass" (1995)

This Canadian hip hop record is more NYC than most shit I heard out New York in '95. Showing up randomly in my "local" record store (props to Grammaphone in Chicago), it was another record on the mid-90's wave that convinced me that Canada was developing into some kind of wonderland for underground hip hop.

Sic Sense "Positional Bypass" 12"

"Positional Bypass" opens with a deep bassline that drives the track, and then drops the hook; a Guru sample ("From the get-go, I let go/shit to make you petro") paired with a Pharoah Monche sample ("yo, it's the verbal assault/weapon with words uncanny"). If you haven't heard these joints, I want to avoid shaping your view of Sic Sense as an MC before you hear 'em, but anyone else think Rakim is his favorite MC? The second MC to rhyme (uh, the one that doesn't sound as much like Rakim) rips it:

My mind snaps, resulting in psycho-psychotic raps
Heads take flight, like it was aviated wax
Nobody is safe, don't relax
I'm crippling tracks like shots straight to your backs

"Onementality" is just as dope, lyrically and musically. The beat features a niiice vibes sample paired with a simple bassline; the definition of ill. Included are both beats and instrumentals.