Appropriateley this album dropped on the 20th of April which is unofficially International Smokers Day. It should come as no surprise since we already know that Curren$y AKA Spitta and Alchemist are some of the biggest weed loyalists in the hiphop game. Is that why they gave out this record for free – well then everyday should be you know what!
On a more serious tip though: Alchemist is already regarded as one of the best producers ever and Spitta has impressed before sharing the stage with Lil Wayne on “Grown Man” and working extensively with another hiphop super producer Ski Beats so it’s safe to say that we are expecting a lot from this EP… a lot of dopeness. Excuse the pun.
Surprisingly unlike on recent projects like Gangrene with Oh No, Alchemist keeps away from the microphone booth leaving the slick talk to Currency and guests. He has his work cut out though producing every single track here.
“BBS” kicks off the EP with a banging beat. Alchemist drops a dope mellow, nostalgic beat as Currency lays down his game in a freestyle flow “It’s that gold BBS flow… never letting up my Jet-living.. I am Trill mutha**** after-all”. The intro track clocking 2:28 minutes is a short track but one long straight verse no hook and actually so are most of the tracks on this EP.
Things get grimy on track two: “The Type” featuring long-time Alchemist collaborator and infamous friend Prodigy of Mobb Deep. Currency kicks it off reminiscing how he came up in his hood and remembers how a dame tried to take his focus of the game.
The second verse finds Prodigy fresh from prison reflecting on the game:
“Cant get caught slippin’ they all want to see me fall...
it comes with the territory take the good with the bad,
throw the dice, where they land so be it,
everything aint strategic, sometimes we risk our lives,
sometimes we risk our love, our money and our freedom,
the bullshit we feed it, to see if you gon eat it”
P has been very busy lately releasing his own EP and realising his controversial Autobiography.
The upbeat “Blood, Sweat and Gears” features long-time Currency collaborator Fiend. It sounds like Fiend was in a very good mood lacing his verse professing his love for that Kush. Fits the concept of the album I guess .
Things slow down a little on the “Life Instructions” as Spitta shares the budda with another infamous weed-lover no other than Smoke Dza, “Twisting like a Marley, Marcus Garvey on a track… sucks to be you trying get Swag, You gotta purchase this cool”. Alchemist constructs an ill beat out of Rock guitars and pumping drum-breaks.
Like the other beats on this EP, the soulful “Smoke Break” features various sound clips in the background and Spitta is just having fun with it talking that dope talk.
Everyone will have different views but I say the strangely titled (until someone breaks the title down for me) “Scottie Pippens” is the dopest track here. Featuring up and coming Freddie Gibbs. This is the track that has been staying in rotation everywhere simply because Gibbs annihilated this track. This guest rapper certainly got all our attention and hopefully his next album “Babyface Killa” is going to “equal the same”.
“I dropped out of college and majored in home invasions,
believe I have the balls to clear up all of my altercations”
“Ventilation” is a smooth soulful track. I have to say Alchemist really brought out his A-game on this EP. He is definitely back on form and I am most definitely looking out for him again. Same goes for ”Double 07”, dopeness gallore.
“Success Is My Cologne” is Spitta sending out a warning to the industry. “I am tired of n***as say they as dope as me, they lying”. A dope haunting beat is the backdrop.
“Full Metal” is so much on a military-like tip that is just well... Full metal! This track is more in line with the title of the EP: Covert Coup and I guess every artist has had their share of troubles with the music industry. The marching band beat is fire and sound-clips from a (war?) movie pepper the track creating a cinematic effect. Spitta holds his own as he marches on, a soldier on the warpath.
“for that cash, I brought a claim Tag, This mine! ...peepin the scene, I’m about to blow!”
This EP gains a lot from Alchemist wholly producing it making sound compact and whole. It helps that Al has found his sound again. Spitta whilst not being the most ridiculous rapper out there continues to shine when working with ill producers as he did with Ski Beats recently. His unassuming style fits the beats nicely and none of the beats sound like they wasted.
In short this EP has got me looking forward to new releases from Spitta, Alchemist and Freddie Gibbs. This EP is definitely worth picking. Whether you blaze a blunt or not aint a thing at all. Just spin this and be part of the Jet Living.
The EP clocks 28 minutes. Short but great!
Rating: @@@@
Tracklist:
01 BBS
02 The Type (feat. Prodigy)
03 Blood, Sweat & Gears (feat. Fiend)
04 Life Instructions (feat. Smoke DZA)
05 Smoke Break
06 Scottie Pippen (feat. Freddie Gibbs)
07 Ventilation
08 Double 07
09 Success Is My Cologne
10 Full Metal
........
& I'm out.
Chief Mlu
........
& I'm out.
Chief Mlu
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