Chemistry lesson

Few producers in the hip-hop world have made as big a splash in recent years as 9th Wonder, and the answer as to why, of course, lies in his freshest of fresh beats. But another aspect of his output that I am always drawn to is his interest in producing entire albums, collaborating with

artists to create coherent wholes which are all too few and far between in rap these days. We know of course about his role in Little Brother, and the classics that these spawned, but other standouts are the entire albums he has desked for the likes of LA's sneaker-obsessed and quite brilliant Murs, or the subject of this particular post, the awesome "Chemistry" LP with none other than Black Moon alumni Buckshot.

Now if like me you thought that Buckshot had done nothing really worthy of note since 1993's bonafide classic "Enta Da Stage", then this album is a welcome opportunity to reassess what it was that made the Boot Camp Clik so appealing in the first place. 9th, despite his relatively tender years, has every right to be classed alongside some of the beat-makers he has clearly been influenced by, from Pete Rock and Premier, to Large Professor, and this album brings to mind memories of the best of the early to mid-90s. And over this aural soundscape, a coherent and complete package of music which ebbs and flows throughout, but never sounds less than brilliantly together, is Buckshot himself, rhyming like a man possessed.

The rapping on the album is inspired, with Buckshot reminding us that for all of the superstardom on offer in the rap game, some of the best MCs have been assigned more blue collar routes to recognition. His rugged, gritty street tales are still to the fore, and 9th's knack for sophisticated yet catchy hooks serve as just enough softener to provide a great urban storyboard that effortlessly combines the old and the new. This is the true chemstry of this collaboration, and epitomised by guests from North Carolina's Justus League alumni, including Phonte, Big Pooh and Joe Scudda, combine with the likes of Brooklyn's own Starang Wondah offering a timely reminder of is own talents and those of his oft-forgotten OGC clan.
Crazily ground-breaking absolute classic?

Maybe not, but it is well worthy of your time, as it is consistently superb. And classic status is not the point, because in comparison to a lot of recent offerings it is a welcome return to the true fundamentals of hip-hop, solid interesting flows over dope beats. And that alone is a wonderful thing.