What makes Monkey Barz by Sean Price notable?

Monkey Barz received critical acclaim for its authentic representation of street life and sharp lyricism, solidifying Sean Price's reputation in the underground hip-hop scene. The album is often cited as a significant work that influenced later artists and contributed to the revival of hardcore East Coast rap. Released in 2005, Monkey Barz was Sean Price's debut solo album after the disbandment of Heltah Skeltah, showcasing his growth as a prominent voice in hardcore hip-hop. At this point in his career, Price was establishing himself beyond the confines of his group work, demonstrating his unique style and lyrical prowess.

How many songs are on Monkey Barz?

Monkey Barz has 16 tracks, running approximately 54 minutes.

Monkey Barz

Sean Price · 2005

54 min · 16 tracks · hip-hop

Raw and gritty, Sean Price delivers relentless lyricism over hard-hitting, sample-heavy beats that epitomize East Coast hip-hop.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Peep My Words — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its aggressive delivery and intricate wordplay, establishing Price's lyrical confidence right from the start.
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Brokest Rapper You Know — In this track, Price blends humor with self-deprecation, showcasing his storytelling ability while also critiquing superficiality in the rap game.
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Heartburn — Heartburn features introspective lyrics that reveal Price's personal struggles while maintaining a gritty edge, making it a standout moment on the album.
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Boom Bye Yeah — This track exemplifies Price's fierce delivery and clever punchlines, reinforcing his status as a formidable lyricist within the genre.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

65 /100

Treeline

Higher than 88% of albums we've rated

The album's raw production and sharp lyricism establish it as a strong entry in hardcore hip-hop.

What we noticed

The album features a consistent use of hard-hitting, sample-heavy beats that create a raw and gritty sound throughout.
Sean Price's delivery is aggressive and relentless, with complex rhyme schemes that showcase his lyrical prowess on nearly every track.
Several tracks incorporate skits or interludes that provide context to the themes of street life and authenticity, enhancing the narrative flow.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 7/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Peep My Words 2:31
2 One Two Y'all 3:31
3 Onion Head 3:01
4 Fake Neptune 3:34
5 Heartburn 4:02
6 Shake Down 3:52
7 Mad Mann 3:45
8 Brokest Rapper You Know 1:34
9 Boom Bye Yeah 3:13
10 I Love You (Bitch) 3:20
11 Bye Bye 3:40
12 Spliff n Wessun 2:57
13 Jail Shit 3:24
14 Monkey Barz 3:16
15 Slap Boxing 3:28
16 Rising to the Top 5:03

What to play next

Listen next

Jesus Price Supastar

2007

Go back to

Imperius Rex

Full Sean Price discography Artists like Sean Price

East Coast hip-hop hardcore hip-hop hip-hop

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata