Guilty Simpson

by Cyril CordorIn contrast to his imposing presence and hard thug posture comparable to rappers like Bumpy Knuckles or Big Shug, Detroit rhyme-slayer Guilty Simpson first achieved exposure on records by eccentric left-field producers like Madlib, Dabrye, Four Tet, and one of his biggest admirers, Detroit's own J Dilla. His lyrics and distinctive flow can also be found on locally released material dating back to the late '90s as a member of local hip-hop brigade Tha Almighty Dreadnaughtz, but those independently made albums and mixtapes are extremely rare outside of the Motor City. Thus, his proper debut came by way of Jay Dee, who threw him on the song "Strapped," which was recorded for Champion Sound (2003), an album Jay Dee did jointly with Madlib. Thrust into the lead of a new class of Detroit MCs in the mid- to late 2000s, Simpson was being called on to make many guest appearances for various Detroit and other Michigan artists, including Dabrye (Two/Three), Jay Dee (The Shining, Ruff Draft), Monica Blaire (Portraits of Me), and Black Milk (Popular Demand), throughout 2006 and 2007. Amidst all that, in late 2006 he officially joined the roster of L.A.-based Stones Throw Records, one of the label homes of Jay Dee (who persistently pushed the company to sign him) before he passed away earlier in the year. After appearing on the label's Chrome Children compilation and tour, Simpson steadily worked on his solo debut as well as a collaborative LP with MC/producer Black Milk and Boot Camp Clik lyricist Sean Price. Finally, in March of 2008, Guilty released his solo debut, Ode to the Ghetto, which featured beats from Madlib, Mr. Porter and Black Milk, among others.