Phoenix, Arizona. To the uninitiated it’s a city that inspires images of tumbleweeds, cacti and heatstroke. To those who are familiar with the sixth largest city in America, it’s home to 475 square miles of hot asphalt, sun-soaked streets and the coldest emcee in America’s hottest city – Willy Northpole. When ReviewSTACKS got a hold of Tha Connect a few days back we wanted to ask Willy a few questions about the album. Questions below, review after the jump.

- When planning Tha Connect, what was most important that you accomplish on the project?

WNP – That it will be considered a certified classic and compared to the best…I knew what the goal was before I started it. The album is my life, I put my heart into it.

- How would you describe your ideal audience?

WNP - I feel that it’s a personal relationship. A lot of people relate to my struggles and see me as inspiration. My audience are real hip-hop fans.

- What brought you into rap and what keeps you in it?

WNP - Rap has always been a part of me; I’ve been recording since I was 12. I’ve always been inspired by hip-hop – that’s why I’m in it.

- What do you like least about the industry?

WNP - Labels have fear…they’re scared to take chances. The industry isn’t cut throat anymore, but hey I’ve gotta get it how I can.

- What’s your favorite track on the album? (And don’t be lame and say all of them.)

WNP - Wow, hardest question ever. I love live music so I’ll have to say “Vegas Lights” but damn man, you got me on that one.

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Tha Connect starts with “Hood Shit,” a track with an ominous beat and dark production that serves as an introduction to Willy Northpole. Stuffed with gangster diction, hood images and delivered through a slow-handed flow, Northpole establishes where he comes from and the surroundings he’s used to. Following “Hood Shit” is “The Story” where Northpole delivers a narrative covering his rise to fame, getting signed to DTP and explaining interaction with G-Unit.

The album doesn’t really start until the fifth track, titled “Body Marked Up” which again is filled in with minimalistic, dark production and has a Lil Wayne sample on the hook. The beat has a harsh feel, with what sounds like tweaked strings providing the meat of the melody and drip and drop sounds giving  jarring accent sounds. Lyrically, Northpole comes in about par with other second-tier mainstream rappers. His wordplay is average and thematically he doesn’t stray too far from the thug persona that is so prevalent in hip-hop. Because of his need to publicize his street cred the track is kept from standing out any way.

The next track, “Hood Dreamer”  has more of a radio-friendly sound to it with B.O.B., or Bobby Ray or whatever persona he’s assuming at the time on the hook. Northpole’s flow is slightly faster and there is a noticeable, but slight, increase in wordplay on the track which keeps the reader’s attention much better than “Body Marked Up.” The more mainstream sound makes the song blend in with most other radio single-types but Northpole’s foray into slight storytelling adds brownie points.

The obligatory “song for the bitches” comes in with “#1 Chick,” which features former DTP member Bobby Valentino where Northpole goes on and on about how fantastic his girl is, how she’s a ride-or-die and how she makes him feel. “Religion” is the introspective joint that showcases the sensitive side of the Phoenix-based emcee while thinking about violence in the hood and the negative aspects of hip-hop. “Heaven” finishes the album with a look back on a close friend who passed away.

The best production on the album comes off of “Feeling Alright” and “Vegas Lights.” “Feeling Alright” has a definite West coast vibe to it where Northpole pulls an Ice Cube and recounts a definite “today was a good day” story. The track sounds like something off of a Devin The Dude release. “Vegas Lights,” a track about the high-life that rappers enjoy edges “Feeling Alright” in concept because the track is put together with sounds that would come from a big-band or lounge performance – drums, electric guitar, vibes – coupled with the Vegas theme it seems like Northpole is rapping from the main stage of a Wayne Newton show.

Overall, Northpole doesn’t have the production or the flow, yet, to carry him to A-list status. His album is crafted well, but made up of singles: a radio-friendly track, a few sad ones, some hood tracks and a potential club banger. The lack of a creative direction or theme on Tha Connect doesn’t allow for the release to stand out much above the rest of his peer’s music but it is a solid effort for a freshman rapper and does become a little catchier the more it’s listened to.

Click Here For More Information on Willy Northpole and Tha Connect.