PhillipMorris.us – The Official Website of Chicago Artist Phillip Morris

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
RapReviews.com – Eric Sirota

The corporate-bashing, ironically-named, nerdcore Chicago producer/MC, Phillip Morris, is not beyond comparison, but the comparisons will not be helpful to those lacking an unhealthy obsession with hip-hop. He’s a black Tim Fite, a good-natured Quasimoto, Vordul Mega with a sense of humor, Paul Barman with flow, etc., etc. These points of reference are not useful. They only became meaningful to me since I started prizing rap hipsterdom over social interaction, but, hey, if masturbating while listening to Digable Planets b-sides is wrong, then I don’t want to be right. Say what you will, it hasn’t been that long since I got laid. The point is, Phillip Morris’s latest release, “The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs,” is fucking brilliant.

Unless you hate nerds, ‘cuz this cat sure is one. He’s got a nasally-ass voice with video game-ish, but still incredibly effective, beats. And on “The M.I.L.F. Song,” he dedicates a whole track to narrating a pornographic fantasy about his motherboard. That’s some nerdy shit. So is bragging about your ability to bag 45-year old white women. So is boasting about how your anti-social love of non-fiction television stops you from going out much. But what’s so redeeming about “The Process of Addiction” is that, beneath all the tongue-in-cheek braggadocio about liking documentaries more than bling, Phillip Morris is an exceptionally talented MC.

Indeed, as much as he revels in his own geeky non-conformity, at the end of the day, Morris is not relying on personality gimmicks. He doesn’t need to. His wordplay is some of the best I’ve ever heard. Interweaving double take-inducing puns into complex rhyme structures, he flows with an effortless, high-pitched-but-never-grating conversational delivery. And he spits genuine insight and humor about any number of topics without coming across as condescending or pretentious. At least not in a bad way. Otherwise put, he’s like Eminem, just not such a dick.

That’s not to say he doesn’t throw plenty of punches. Ragging on everyone from computer geeks to gangster rappers to corporate execs, Phillip is no pacifist, but, more than at anyone else, he takes aim at himself. According to Phillip Morris, Phillip Morris is an inadequate lover who would rather sit alone smoking weed and making bouncy-yet-sparse beats on his laptop than having a girlfriend or even watching a decent movie.

Still, Phil is not a depressive. At least not in a bad way. There’s an integrity to his debilitating self-pity. Maybe it’s that his miserable kvetching is filled with poignant observation. Maybe it’s that he manages to take ownership of his own lameness. Or maybe it’s just that, hopeless as he seems, after listening to “The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs” a couple times, you start to realize that everyone else seems worse.

Music Vibes: 8.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 9.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 9 of 10

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
Illinois Entertainer – Max Herman

“I’d rather speak my mind than die a bitter old man,” proclaims nasally MC Phillip Morris on his sophomore LP, The Process Of Addiction Has Its Costs. Like his 2007 debut, no topics are off limits, but this time he cleverly covers a wider range of subjects, including venting about 9-to-5 life and challenging the common notion of patriotism. And with his raps being coupled with crisp, sample-based beats from himself and producers like Coolout Chris, this album consistently sounds fresh.

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
LaFamiglia Magazine

Chicago based emcee, Phillip Morris, has recently released his second album, ‘The Process of Addiction Has its Costs’. The album touches on a broad range of topics from “gan[g]sta” music, politics, consumerism, and many aspects of society. There is a certain foundation of true hip-hop beneath the vision of this wordsmith there’s no doubt in my mind. With a classic sound, more verses, less hooks, and no b.s. this is something fresh you should check out for yourself.

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
Exclaim! Magazine – Omar Mouallem

Nerdcore is not unusual to the Canadian hip-hop scene, given the outsider influence of the vast prairies. But a skinny kid from big, bad Chicago? It’s evident that region has nothing to do with nerdiness. Whether he’s rapping about super-sexy motherboards (“The Milf Song”) or asking to “kick a little something for the 45 and up Caucasian women” (“May I?”), Phillip Morris puts a mean-mug on acned faces. But techie references and a nasally voice don’t make him talented; his sharp rhymes do, and he’s got plenty. And more often than most rapper nerds, when he breaks from the comedy, Phillip Morris is just as strong with cutting political and social commentary.

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
Skope Magazine – Shawn Alexander Roy

From it’s mind-blowing title track to the end. ‘The Process of Addiction Has its Costs’ brings a lot of bang for your buck. Spot on attacks on office life, “gangsta” music, American nationalism, and consumerism prove that nothing is safe from Phillip Morris. With songs reminiscent of  The Pharcyde, Prince Paul, and MF DOOM, Phillip Morris proves himself to be one of the ultimate word smiths of hip-hop.

Some of the stand out tracks include:

“Ain’t What She Used to Be (feat Hanna Rae)”: This track is very reminiscent of Immortal Technique. Phillip Morris pulls out loaded guns at American Media and speaks the truth about what we all have to do overcome the “next Vietnam.”

“Die For The Music  (feat. Awdazcate)”: Like something pulled right out of Price Paul’s Politics of the Business or  A Prince Among Thieves comes this skit. A blatant assault on “Gangsta” music that’s full of laughs, but a tad over-long.

“The M.I.L.F Song”: This song is not what you think it’s about. It’s a sexual-innuendo filled song about people’s obsession with technology and keeping abreast with the latest got to have gear.

‘The Process of Addiction Has its Costs’ is out now. Buy it, and listen to it with headphones on.

Rating:

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
Chicago Decider – Jon Graef

“Because of Morris’ personable flow, and the brisk, minimalist production, Costs moves along at a nice clip… “May I” flirts with dubstep to haunting effect, while the anthemic soul of “It Comes Right Back” and “Peace In The Puzzle” should please fans of the Rhymesayers collective.”

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
HipHopLinguistics.Com

The MILF Song – Track of The Week

“This week’s underground hip-hop track of the week is Phillip Morris’ The MILF Song – and it’s definitely not about what you think it’s about. This song had me cracking up on the train today, and is one of many creative tracks from Phillip Morris’ “The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs.” – HipHopLinguistics.com (Jan 23, 2009)

The Process of Addiction Has its Costs
Centerstage Chicago – Jeff Min

“The West Side [Chicago] MC isn’t afraid of a a little controversy in his music….his latest [album], The Process of Addiction Has Its Costs, puts America under a microscope as he criticizes the country’s destructive reliance on oil, money and war.”

Instrumentality
Illinois Entertainer – Max Herman

“Seldom do you hear a rapper call himself “kinda nerdy” as Phillip Morris does on his debut, Instrumentality. Here, this nasal MC/producer makes no bones about tossing out “X-Files” and Sudoku references. But Morris’ intelligent wordplay isn’t all about nerdiness as he cleverly takes on Dubya’s “dirty politics” (”Divided States”) and stands up for women trapped in abusive relationships (”World Of Deceit”). To top it off, his laptop-produced beats bump.” – Max Herman

Instrumentality
ERASOUL.com

Philip Morris – Instrumentality LP (Self-Released)
A super impressive release from a young mc. This stands out in a stack of blah-blah rappers. Not an instrumental album…Support this dude, buy his album for $8 shipped!

Instrumentality – “The Nightmare Before Christmas”
CMJ Magazine

“The Nightmare Before Christmas – Phillip Morris referencing skin flute solos and Hunter Thompson in the same song can make you crack a smile, proving witty hip-hop can thrive in the hands of the capable. Or nerdy. Recommended if you like: Eminem, Ludacris, MF Doom”