Oroku Saki
Mickey Diamond
2023
Mickey Diamond has been steadily pumping out high-quality concept albums and has easily become one of my favorite rappers working today.
Oroku Saki is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle-themed concept album and named after villain Shredder. The album is also told from his perspective. Mickey Diamond constantly references the show and it’s characters but in a more street context over jazzy boom bap production. Clips from the original 1987 cartoon series are constantly sampled and provide the bedrock of the album. Ral Duke handles production on the entire album expertly and he really shines through this collaboration.
The album also serves as an homage to the late MF DOOM, who’s not just referenced in the lyrics, but the album cover invokes the cover of MM.. FOOD. The album’s content revolving around a prominent villain is yet another homage to the metal-masked rapper.
Stand-Out Tracks
Oroku Saki
Chrome Dome
The Foot
