producers: dj spinna, geology, joe max.

First: turn up the music, this is to be listened to loud. Second: a little louder, still. Third: the Jigmastas, DJ Spinna and MC Kriminul don't need an introduction. Naw, they are as known as a kid would be that still rocks polka dots. Of course if you still want to get something of the introduction sort, check this out. We other folks continue on to check out the album.

And mightily this starts, with something that is so simply named. "Intro" gives us sirens, that make sure that we know why Spinna is so liked, why he has been the hot name for more than a minute. And in a way, Spinna pulls a Primo. Not biting his style of production, but holding back the best beats for his own record, like Primo seems to be doing for Gang Starr releases. Our head is already nodding like a oil pump, and you should get the cold wrappings out, as with tracks like "Till The Day", things will not change anytime soon. So your neck will be cursing this album, due to it having to work overtime. Now there's another entity to the Jigmastas team, and Kriminul doesn't lack the flow needed to complement the beats. And he exhibits, him doing it well versed on this track here, where he does a little bragging as well as some proving of his solidarity to this hip hop thing. Well, maybe some similes are a little old, like saying that people are vegetarian and don't want no beef, but hey, who cares? This is funky.

And so is "Vent". Well, maybe even funkier. And the guitar is only paving the way for them late night structures, that glow like some special bug's butt in the night. More head nodding going on, more flowing from Kriminul, and the braggadocios reminds us of them good old days, when hip hop was made to be fun and not to scare. Or something. Now, Spinna even outdoes himself on "Don't Get It Twisted", where he takes some hand clapping, that sound like the worlds best double dutcher. Now, not only is Sadat X added to the track, but the cut also progresses and builds. So darn, we are just so happy with this album and have just reached track no. 4. No. 5 is then going into definite night structures, that late summer night feeling that you will have, driving around, and seeing the plush and soft lights outside. And if you don't know what I mean by this, close your eyes and listen to "Elevate". Perfectly, pleasantly ill-matching, the lyrics are not allowing us to just chill back, but they express some serious accusation, reminding us to keep our feet on the ground and not get high on bling bling, fake gods, shareholder value and what not.

Back on the party vibe, "8 Million Stories" might be a little too typical Spinna for its own good. Then again to say such a thing is rather ridiculous. "Lyrical Mastery" is not the materialistic track, despite the "I need some of that money you other rappers are talking about". Naw. Of course he says that, but he's willing to exchange the funds with a product that's saturated by 'lyrical mastery'. Actually Kriminul speeds up his flow, and the Spartan beat fits very well, kinda like it should. On "C.S.S." Spinna pulls out a sung chorus, before he overpowers us with simply a few extra levels. And the love for details, of true production attention, is shown by the little 'bounce' moment, while the vibes make this jazzy. And the MC is doing some sweet talking, seconded by the written out title, that means 'criminal, subliminal, seduction'. One of the few guests that is given the chance to be on here can be found on "Apology Not Accepted", the guest being Apani B-Fly Emcee. This amazingly keeps things around beat wise, that could have easily been dropped. And yes, I'm talking about some of the levels. Also a sung voice is taken to give it a character that is only heard by those that pay attention, while Kriminul takes things beyond the bragging and boasting, doing some thinking for us, that we are allowed to follow and ponder ourselves. Spinna mocks us with all kind of changes and little breaks, before we pushed into "Cliche". This is kinda dominated by the bass, still very Spinna, and finished by a blaksploitation conclusion, so it seems.

As there are guitars on "Hollar", and we are told that Vernon Ried (of Living Colour) is playing the guitar on one track, it's fair to assume, that his contribution can be found on this very track. There are more nightly structures on here, while Kriminul is doing some story telling, before some dood sings the chorus. Now there are a whole lot of elements we are usually not too bothered about hearing, however, this pulls it off pleasantly, so no complaint coming from here. The next cut goes by the name of "Nocturnal Jam", that maybe tries a little too hard to make it club friendly. The bass is too 80s, while the keys would be kinda fun, and all the other Spinna typical elements also fit well. Again more serious topics are expressed on "Reality Check", what then leaves us with only the "Outro" left. Here Spinna is given the chance to leave us impressed, what he successfully does, with an instrumental and very musical piece, that's slowed down, very groovy and once more of the magnificent night time travel vibe.

Aight, not many bad words we did find for this, huh? Now, why do you think that is? Well, this is straight up banging, that's why. Okay, let's be fair though. Kriminul might not be a Picasso on the mic and what Spinna gives us is not groundbreakingly different to what he did on the last EP ("Grass Roots - Lyrical Fluctuation"). But, considering that this album lay around the Tommy Boy Black Label vaults for much too long, it still remained fresh. So fresh, it's doubtful that it's expiration date will be anytime soon.

disclaimer: the promo copy that we've got does not contain any credits. we know that geology and joc max did a beat or beats on here, we don't know what tracks though. so if we credited something to spinna that one of those two cats did, we are very sorry. no chocolate for us today.