I love albums like this; you just know it is going to be dope. With Slug and Murs rhyming, The Grouch on the boards, and this only being an EP, the album is almost good by default. This album comes on the heels of Slug’s classic “Godlovesugly” and precedes Murs’ solo debut on Def Jux. This tribute to Christina Ricci (???) contains 10 tracks and 7 songs, all of which feature both emcees. Outside of Slug’s collaborations with the Living Legends, Sluggo and Murs have not really worked together, not that you can tell.
They mesh together very well right from the get-go and continue to compliment each they as they trade verses throughout the album. “Anneurysm” displays better that better than any other, which is very surprising to me. Those of you who bought the album just to get their fix of Slug will know what I mean, the track is classic Slug; from the nice slow-tempo beat to his incredible tortured soul rhymes. I didn’t want Slug to have to share the mic on this particular track. Yet, Murs has the second verse and gives the track a welcomed new dimension.
But if you don’t know what I mean when I say ‘classic Slug,’ check; “I should escape, I should disappear/it’s getting’ clear, crystal clear/I’m in a bad position here/I gave you power/I gave you control/but you had to play the role/reckless with the treasure that you hold/there isn’t much as unsatisfying as the blind man listening, believing in the one that’s lying.” Is that enough? Not really, he is only getting warmed up for this; “exhausted by the storm before the calm/holdin’ on to a memory, keepin’ it warm within my palm/wake up time bomb, the clock is tickin’/shot the gift and all you got’s a pot to piss in and some wrong decisions/and here you are again emotions in your hand/like you’re powerless, an innocent victim of circumstance/tell me that it hurts again/tell me that it weighs you down/tell me that you need me and I’ll tell you that I hate you now/fuck you/you don’t know what you need/this is the last time that I tell you/next time I’m gonna leave/I can’t watch your destruction/I can’t trust judgement/I swear to god that you’re better than this/I wish you’d quit those drugs bitch.” Still, you have to hear it to truly appreciate it.
At the opposite of that, there is the equally dope, “The Two,” which is a hella funky beat that is uncharacteristic for either to rhyme over. The bassy, synthesized, west-coast styled track does an excellent job of getting you amped for the rest of the EP. “Suzanne Vega” and “All I Can Do” are dope too, but then again, the whole album is. This is the caliber of album you would expect from the talent involved, the only downside is that in only clocks in at 30 minutes. Nonetheless, consider it felt.
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7.5/10
