producers: nowledge of self, steelo

7. Summer Time

This crew is hailing from Tampa, Florida and if you've been paying attention, we've already told you about someone dope from there some time ago. So location wise they have an upstart, however also the burden to live up to that other record. But the three members of N.O.S., who are Seif, Black Rose JWiz), and IL'Logic don't disappoint, as their music is thirsting for self enlightenment and their humbleness, realness, and respect towards life can be heard in each song, to borrow some words from their bio. And all of that manifest in enormously smooth and musical beats, that are paired with intelligent and deep lyrics, that make this a massage for your soul and intellect, as well as a comfortable chair to chill in.

Usually we only want to talk about the best and the worst, because that is keeping the review short. But in this case, it wouldn't help, as there's so much good on here, you don't even talk about the worst, and the review is already too long. Hence we gotta reduce the mentionings to the diamonds amongst the precious stones. And one of those is the rather playful "New Era", a cut that also features Rico the promoter and Elijah Shabazz. "Summer Time" is one of those perfect summer tunes, that are just instantly transporting you to the days where you feel embraced by the sun, with it caressing your skin, and you immediately felling as good as you possibly can. Hence not even a tried and tested Roy Ayers sample can hurt this record, that lyrically exactly talks about those beautiful days that lets you escape the grasp of everything that is troubling you on a regular day, to find peace for at least a couple of moments.

But not all is totally smooth: with "What" (one of two tracks not produced by N.O.S., but by Steelo) we get a cut that could easily get a dance crowd going, with the lyrics also walking the path of talking about the emcees, rather than talking about something that is troubling them. While not completely for the dance crowd, "Cruising" still features a driving beat, that is then exchanged with something a little more smooth, what is also due to the very well fitting female singing. Seif B is taking us through his town and thoughts, with always making sure that the experience is relaxing: Hence he says: "this ain't no race, so don't worry if you finish late". Right after this, one of the most spectacular beats comes on with "Lines Of My Face", that features an incredible piano and a poem by Sha'een opening the cuts. But the beat is allowed to progress for a big part in instrumental ways, to further sew the slight melancholy under our skin. And finally on "Chill Factor" there's a more rugged sound coming on, with the vibes coming on later. This cut also features Dutchmassive and here the emcees allow themselves to talk about less serious, and more braggadocios topics.

If we want to desperately find something to criticizes, then it must be the similarity that is upheld throughout much of the album. That's very cool for someone who enormously likes this kind of style, but must only further alienate someone that is not totally keen on it, as well as it makes it harder for the tracks stand out separately. And what is also impossible to ignore, that sometimes N.O.S.' music sounding a little too similar to what that other cat from Tampa is doing. Nevertheless, those that want to hate, should give their ear a serious rubbing, because it's hard to not be overwhelmed by the softness of the sounds. And it is just hard to not like good positive lyrics over musical and carefully crafted beats. Too hard.