Artist/Album Review–Henry Chanin: MC Says- “In Peace”

“B-R-O-O-K-L-Y-N is the place that I stay…” Although not the exact words of Henry Chanin, also known as MC Says, he was also born and bred in Brooklyn, NYC. It is no surprise that he was heavily influenced by hip-hop at an early age as a product of the culturally rich environment. I had the privilege of sitting down with MC Says a couple days before he, along with MC Empyr, opened for Blue Scholars here on campus mid-October. We talked life, lyrics, and musical loves. “Most people would say I have a New York style of rap. That’s the people I listen to, that’s the people I learned how to rhyme with…” Chanin claims his early influences include Mobb Deep, Mase, Junior M.A.F.I.A, and more recent influences such as Billy Woods, Cannibal Ox, and Vordul Mega. It was at the of age of fifteen when he heard Afroman’s  “Colt 45” that he knew he could and should be maintaining the pen and the mic. His passion and knowledge of hip-hop as a culture, as a lifestyle, and as music is evident in his tracks off the premier album “In Peace”. I was aware that his passion surely mirrors his talent in our conversation as well on stage, despite the extra hard work he’s been forced to put in due to the stereotypes of hip-hop, especially in NYC. The hard work has paid off with his collaboration with MC Empyr and MC ‘O’ on “In Peace” (Pick up a copy TODAY from Mr. Chanin himself!). The album consists of twenty-two tracks including instrumentals, interludes and political quotes from JFK. The album is frank and has a rare sense of sincerity that is not so prevalent in new-age hip-hop. His lyrical honesty is even somewhat uncommon in underground artists of this day and age. Chanin is heard five times on the CD.  The MC Says “…it is just a showcase of what is to come…” I say ‘I can’t wait’… and I’m sure I’m not the only one.