Gregory Poe also goes by his hip-hop moniker Illmaculate A.K.A Illmac — and he may be the best rapper you’ve never heard of. I don’t say that with any disrespect aimed at his name, but Portland, Seattle, Tacoma, and the greater Pacific Northwest are rarely included in the conversation of best hip-hop regions. Illmac’s latest album Sprng showcases years of writing and rapping in the PNW and makes one wonder how you haven’t been bumpin’ this dude for years.
Illmac’s Sprng hits like a much-needed therapy session on a rainy day. “Motion Blur” explores the human experience and urges people to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes — in other words, show some empathy for your fellow human. “Marble Statues” is a self-reflective song about taking life as it comes because “it is what it is, ’till it ain’t.” This collection of songs is sure to take listeners deeper than the surface level of life.
The writing in this album is absolutely impeccable. The amount of complex ideas he discusses throughout the 12 song project is impressive. While Sprng covers some heavy topics, the album never feels heavy — this is some feel-good ‘ish you could easily bump on the way to work and catch the right vibe. If you can’t get enough of this album, Illmac has 11 other projects to sort through — the dating back to 2007.
