Ink

Stik Figa
Still Ain’t Easy Bein’ Skinny 

It seems the last few months have been productive for Topeka emcee Stik Figa. Last summer saw the release of his brilliant As Himself, and just a few weeks ago, Stik’s much darker but still rewarding collaboration with D/Will, Hello and Goodbye, was released.

Stik Figa’s latest, Still Ain’t Easy Being Skinny, might seem to follow Hello and Goodbye a little soon, but the 18 tracks are actually a mixtape-style compilation of older numbers. Included are some songs that were previously available online, some tracks not found elsewhere, several collaborations with area producers and emcees and some freestyling.

While it’s a bit of an odds-and-ends collection, it works as a whole remarkably well. Mixed by DJ Shad, the tracks flow well despite the differences in production and the fact that the tracks were recorded here and there over a considerable period of time. There’s not an over-arcing theme, as on Hello and Goodbye. The tracks are pretty much just Stik doing what he does best, flowing with wit and plenty of tongue-in-cheek, often self-deprecating humor.

There are several collaborations here, with production from Oddisee, Greg Enemy, Dante Lewis and Johnny Quest, and guest vocals from Enemy, Ron Ron and Add-2, as well as Dre Dai and Burnablocc. All of Stik’s guests are great, with some tracks, such as “Fly Ass Glass” featuring Greg Enemy, standing out in an above-average collection.

There’s a lot to like for fans and new listeners. For a compilation, Still Ain’t Easy Being Skinny is remarkably consistent. While there are some standout tracks — “Wiz Kids — No Good” and “Whatchatalkinbout” come to mind — all of the tracks bump and grind admirably, and Stik maintains the level of quality that listeners have come to expect. Old-school fans might especially enjoy Stik’s 2008 reworking of Souls of Mischief’s classic “’93 Til Infinity,” in “Chillin’.” As always, there’s plenty of material for hometown fans, as well.

The only fault — if it could be called that — of Still Ain’t Easy Being Skinny is there’s nothing particularly surprising. That’s more than forgivable, though, since the record is a mixtape, and a great way for fans to catch up with some tracks they may have missed in 2009. Fortunately, Stik Figa’s way with words is more than enough to carry the 18 tracks, and his guests are no slouches, either.

While Hello and Goodbye was a crafty collaboration with D/Will and a superb record, its grittier, harsher, more complex tone was a bit unexpected. Still Ain’t Easy Being Skinny gives fans a chance to hear some great work from Topeka’s finest they may not have picked up on earlier, and it provides a healthy dose of Stik’s more upbeat, clever, fun side ahead of what promises to be a productive year for one of the area’s most enjoyable emcees.
— j howell { special to ink }

Find it
Download Still Ain’t Easy Bein’ Skinny at itsstikfigamayne.blogspot.com, werunkc.com and kcmixtapes.com.