Production: Paints a gritty, urban landscape where futuristic and forward thinking rhythms meet an array of vintage sounds (prog synths, electric organs, swing trumpets) and styles (70s drug-hazed soul, funk and reggae)
Vocals: Thick timbre reminiscent of Tash and Pharoahe Monch that boasts street edginess and astute intellect
Look for: “Blackout,” the rap-rockin’, racial identity crisis anthem that alternates between chanted choruses “We’re black and we want to be white” and “We’re white and we want to be black.”
Heavy Rotation tracks: “Say Werd“; “R’Thentic“; “Black
Soap” (featuring M-1 of Dead Prez); “Blackout”
Medium Rotation tracks: “Knowledge“; “Music
Takeovah“; “Pink” (featuring Jean Grae)
Recommended: Better sequencing (three of the best tracks are near the end) and shaving off a couple tracks in the middle would make this even stronger, but this is a solid album for fans of hard-edged and high brow, entertaining hip hop.
Grade: A- (Top 20 Albums of 2005 Candidate)

(As posted 7/21/05 on davepowersmusic.com)
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