Earlier this year, Def Jux set a new standard as to what a label compilation should be; a showcase of the label’s talent while establishing or maintaining an overall cohesive and distinctive sound. Eastern Conference certainly boasts no shortage of talent, and unlike the previous installments of Eastern Conference All-Stars, there are very few outside appearances. It is evident that they do not need the help as Copywrite, Cage, Eon, and fam have no problem holding down 17 tracks.
One of the last to not to drop his album yet, Tame One, starts of the compilation. “Tame As It Ever Was” sees Tame ripping a brilliant up-tempo J-Zone beat and acts as a great introduction to the album. Tame’s other effort “Dreamz” doesn’t fair quite as well however, largely due to an uninspired Reef beat. Copywrite follows Tame out of the gates and continues to make his claim to Chino XL’s title of the best punch-rhymer. In both Copy’s contributions (“Won’t Stop” and “Jeah”) are helped by ill production from Rjd2 and Mighty Mi respectively. Copywrite also shows up on both Weathermen tracks, “5 Left In The Clip” also with Cage, Breezly Brewin, Tame One and Y@k Ballz and “Gut You” with Cage and Camu Tao. The former is dope with a driving beat courtesy of Dart La but it is “Gut You” is a show-stealer.
Cage is all over the place on this album, with the aforementioned Weathermen tracks, 2 solo tracks, 2 Smut Peddlers tracks and a Nighthawks song. Without a doubt, he shines the brightest on his solo cut, “Ballad of Worms.” The song is every bit the classic that “Agent Orange” is, and even more demented. Speaking of bizarre shit, RA The Rugged Man makes his requisite appearance and flips his perverse rhymes over a classic J-Zone instrumental. I should mention that the Nighthawks self-titled track is pretty smoking.
While Eon blesses a Domingo beat real-nice on “Rumble,” he and Mighty Mi falter on “And 1.” While it is a cute ode to basketball, it is just sub-par. The original version of “The Last Hit” barely differs from the released version and it makes me wonder if they just included it to have Eminem’s name on the album. Nonetheless, the album is really strong from start to finish and does a great job of presenting the label to new fans and keeping the old one’s happy. Remember, front and they will hunt you.
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8/10
