<p><span><span>- Last year seemed hopeless for many but for Injury Reserve<strong> </strong>it was even worse. After dropping their successful debut record in 2019, the trio were destined to make a large dent in the hip-hop world. Sadly, however, it was not to be, as member <strong>Stepa J. Groggs </strong>passed away unexpectedly at age thirty-two early in 2020. <strong>Ritchie With a T </strong>and <strong>Parker Corey </strong>were left with two choices: either retire the Injury Reserve name or make the -in many ways equally tough- decision to continue on in some form. Latest project <em>By the Time I Get to Phoenix </em>is the answer to that question but whether or not it’s the final one, is another matter entirely.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Outside </em>is almost a complete deconstruction of the hip-hop structure, especially the one which is expected by fans. While the normal rap elements remain, they exist only really in a fast-spinning whirlwind of noise that circles around as Ritchie aggressively projects how he’s finished digressing with those he disagrees with. His main vocals are raw -almost <strong>MC Ride </strong>like- as his surrounding, background vocals punch the production. The track builds to a heart-pounding finish as the synth and drum tornado increases, ending in just a few distorted notes.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Superman That</em><strong> </strong>is a hard-hitting industrial cut that sees Parker bring forth the popping drums and crackling synths. Ritchie sounds destroyed over a warped sample of <strong>Black Country, New Road</strong>, using autotune in an expressive manner like that of <strong>Kid Cudi </strong>or <strong>Kanye West</strong>. The lyrics are painful, offering no balm to Ritchie's heavy depression as he exclaims “<em>Ain’t no saving me or you</em>” as the production breaks from under his feet.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Ground Zero </em>is dark and ominous with Parker’s synths stalking behind the listener like a masked killer, followed by a few quick drum hits once in a while to boost the energy as Ritchie barely brings his verse above a whisper. It's about the ever-present stress of trying to stay one step ahead of the silent kills of the Covid pandemic, but, Ritchie himself seems ready to kill at any moment, the tension rising and rising as he looms ominously, but never strikes.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Top Picks for You </em>is just plain crushing: Ritchie breaks down as he realises that even though his friend Groggs is dead, the algorithms of our world, like music and show recommendations, will continue to forever update, like a hollow reminder of the man. The track further explores the 'human algorithm', what's left of Groggs that Ritchie sees, living on in his children. Parker’s roaring guitars and Ritchie’s background singing sound very distant, with his main, whispered verses brought into intimate focus by the production. It is heartbreaking to hear Ritchie struggling to continue on, made all the more plaintive as he asserts that he and Parker just have to make it.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>If this is the final Injury Reserve album, I can say without a doubt that <em>Knees </em>is their masterpiece. The song’s production consists of only a stop and start guitar lick backed by ticking drums which, to Parker's credit, never feels repetitive. Ritchie’s chorus is vivid, as he describes endless pain in his life that seems to only grow, despite his efforts to get past it. The track features one of the few Groggs verses, which is purposefully painful and destructive: the late rapper breaks down the effects of his alcoholism, the disease he would later succumb to, on himself and his family.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>By the Time I Get to Phoenix </em>will no doubt be a classic album down the line and that’s no small feat. The project is intense and some of the most destructive and depressing music to come out this year. Injury Reserve consistently cross the border of what can be considered hip hop music in attempt to find a healing which proves frustratingly elusive. While this may be a poignant, broken end for one of hip-hop’s brightest groups, <em>Phoenix </em>is master-work in the face of misery. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- James Chadwick.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3972976432/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="https://injuryreserve.bandcamp.com/album/by-the-time-i-get-to-phoenix">… the Time I Get to Phoenix by Injury Reserve</a></iframe>