For the grown-up sector of hip-hop fans, 1988 means thick gold chains, a disturbing crack epidemic and classic music. Many remember that fateful year as a captivating point of Hip Hop’s Golden Age – a flourishing time before flash dominated the genre a decade later. For 19-year-old mc/producer Scanz, 1988 also represents birth – both physically and musically. Though he was likely more interested in a toy box than a beatbox at the time, the Golden Age clearly resonates with Scanz. His debut album, Prelude to a Legacy, is somewhat a revival of that era. Flashing back to a day when sharp instrumentation stacked over pronounced drum loops was the sound du jour, the album feels more like a legacy’s continuation than its prelude.

Though Scanz raps, “I live for the present, anything in the past is gone,” on “Make It Happen,” Prelude sonically leans towards yesteryear. The nods tend to work effectively thanks to Scanz’s fiery tone and gut-punching vocals as he raps, “The perfect blend like fire, earth, and wind/You can hear the soul from it/Now it’s time to get some dough from it/’Cause I been using up what I got, boy, it’s low-budget."

As part of the Rawkus 50 campaign, Scanz has an opportunity to help redefine a record company seeking to regain its status as indie Hip Hop heroes. “A Dimepiece” aides that cause with reverberating snares and nimble wordplay. Meanwhile, “Don’t Front” features a detached guitar melody paired with a lounge-ready drum loop, a classic recipe that has yet to lose its appeal. The track’s cool nature shows great staying power as the chorus echoes, “I know my flow is dope and/I know I got y’all open/But my only concern is why/Ain’t y’all doin’ the same?”

Scanz occasionally struggles to reconcile his affinity for yesterday’s sound with today’s musical climate. It is unfortunate though understandable. Era worship is prevalent in pop culture, especially in a genre like hip-hop that is so rooted in retro embracement. However, placing too much emphasis on the past can lead to disappointment. Music demands that artists accentuate their forbearers’ positives and carry the art form through its natural progression. Where would hip-hop be if Nas merely emulated Rakim instead of advancing The God’s genius? Certain moments of Prelude, such as the musically and thematically dated “I Am Hip Hop,” force listeners to choose between fond memories and a desire to hear something fresh.

There is, however, more than enough content to suggest that Prelude to a Legacy could prove to be a prophetic title. Scanz has already displayed clever writing and production talent that complement his passionate delivery. Alongside co-producer Frank G, he generally lays a comfortable foundation to build upon. If Scanz develops a slightly more forward-focused approach, he may help usher-in “new millennium boom bap.” If this is merely a glimpse of what’s to come, the future looks bright.