SPOTLIGHT #2: "Dirty Work" by Pro Dillinger
An album review by Brandon Kao
Back in April, we sat down with Pro Dillinger to talk about his upcoming projects. In it, he mentioned his album “Dirt Don’t Hurt” and has now come back just months later with his follow up “Dirty Work,” produced by Wino Willy.
If you have never listened to Pro Dillinger before, be warned. You might just wanna catch a smack the first time you hear his shit. No holds barred, this that cross armed, mean muggin, spit in ya face, and get ya brand new Ups stepped on type of tough talk. This dude could really smack the shit out of your favorite rapper. I’ve met the guy and he’s a big fucking dude; it’s no wonder he raps the way he does. Bumping this album at night might have you looking over your shoulder every other minute. This is not no nice raps. These are pure street bars dug straight out the Haverstraw dirt and pressed on wax. Filthy.
“My life garbage, I’m okay with it,” Pro raps on the opening track. The dusty ass piano and Pro’s voice scraping over it like sandpaper make this joint sound like wandering down the wrong alley on a cold December night knowing Christmas is around the corner. The next track “Workers Comp” features the Cold Cut King, Boars Head Bub Styles, who delivers his bars with as much “fuck you” attitude as he does with every verse. That same Attitude Era, dynamic duo feel is revived on “Clocked In,” which puts Pro in the ring with his Umbrella co-affiliate, Snotty, to trade blows. Straight fire, big Umbrella shit. Look out for “Steiner Brothers.” Another banger worth mentioning is “Lunchbreak.” The hook is strong and features a crazy ass sample of what I can only imagine is a flute fed through a demented midi or some shit. Yo Wino Willy, what the fuck did you do to that sample?
My personal favorite track is “Overtime,” which has a surprisingly soulful, blissed out melody that contrasts the raspy grittiness of Pro’s voice for a beautifully grimy effect. He raps, “I set the table so my family supposed to be eating.” Judge all you want about this man but he’s gonna put food on the table and provide for his people whether he’s the garbage man on the album cover, a drug dealer, or the fucking president. It’s all dirty work. So when you listen to the outro of the album go ahead and start it from the top again and think: If you asked Pro Dillinger what he does for a living, are you ready to brag or are you ready to judge? Either way, Pro Dillinger doesn’t give a shit what you think.
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