Tragedy feeds myth – and Scientifik’s story combines both. His 1994 debut Criminal is the vinyl incarnation of a what-if scenario: ten tracks preserving the street philosophy, bulletproof battle rhymes and raw atmosphere of an era when New York City was the capital of hip-hop and baseball caps still came with a crease.
Even among heads, The Most Blunted has long remained a cult secret. Yet – and yes, this might sound like blasphemy to the Technics 1210 purists – Criminal could easily sit beside Illmatic as an East Coast archetype. »To the East Coast stealers and the dealers / They’re the ones that really feel this on the realest«, declares the Brooklyn-born MC from Lawrence on »Jungles of da East«, making it clear this is music for listeners whose hearts and record shelves have room for RZA, Diamond D or Buckwild — for those mellow sax steps gliding over filtered basslines and dusty drum breaks.
Scientifik’s songwriting and effortless flow fit together as naturally as a pair of Timbos and camo baggies – leaving you wondering how it might have sounded if he’d ever broken a sweat. That Criminal was sold straight from the trunk after poor promotion and a possible label collapse only heightens its retro mystique — turning Criminal into a sleeping giant. The sun rises in the East.
