This is the ninth compilation album from Boston, Massachusetts underground label Leedz Edutainment. They have released a number of titles since the early 2010s, including the Mass Movementz duology as well as the Write Off quartet and Eastern Standard. It’s been a few years since “Workers of Workers” came out, and “Hard to Learn” arrives 49 months later and feels even more fragile than its predecessors.
Following the intro of “Acceptance,” the Barrel Brothers and REKS-produced title track from Arcitepe begins with an uplifting intro that talks about waiting for your turn, while Big Shug, Ed OG and Mann Terror’s “The Friends of Eddie Leedz” finds the trio representing their city. Lex the Hex Master, Ruste Juxx, and XL the Beast’s “The Darkside” explores a horrorcore vibe that talks about darkness following them, while Ill Bill, Q-Unique, Rite Hook, and Wildcard’s “Walk Between What Remains” deftly blends hardcore hip-hop and rock-rap.
Blueprint, MURS and Sareem Poems’ “No Surprise” is back in the heat after a “Diversion” skit and Lenny Lashley’s Gang of 1 covers Bruce Springsteen’s “Downbound Train” talking about jumping through hoops to survive, before Akrobatik, M-Dot and Reef the Lost’s “Lyrze’ Shit” skit. Midi Alien The beat discusses the good feeling of overcoming obstacles and coming back stronger than before.
Bonnie Stone, Freddie Black, Lateb, Napoleon da Legend, Raw Deff, and Weapon ESP all join forces for the 5-minute team cut “Battle Tested,” in which Napoleon and Weapon ESP sing the strongest verses of “Each” before “Hhow” by Rite Hook, STL GLD, and XL the Beast’s “Animal to Overs.” The first paragraph of “Learn” talks about the quartet feeling like a pack of angry wolves coming through a herd of sheep.
After Godforbid gave us Primus’ cover of “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers,” The Dunnas appeared on “The Working Man (Turn & Burn),” which specifically celebrates these types of people, while Awon, Emskee, and Sadat Never experienced anything in terms of Fantasies”. Difficulties in your life.
Blak Madeen and Daddy-O’s “History iz Watching” calls on the world to choose between right and wrong, while Ea$y Money, STL GLD and XL the Beast’s “Living With a Ghost” follows the “Father’s Day” skit about absent fathers. Block McCloud and Problemattik’s “Learn to Suffer” is about being true to yourself, and after the “Gratitude” skit, XL the Beast’s “Penniless Kings” realizes that’s who everyone is before the end of “See You on the Next One.”
Not quite sure if “Leedz Edutainment” can top “Worker of Workers”, but “Hard to Learn” has superseded it by putting the listener in the shoes of more people than they thought. Arcitype is back behind the scenes, and in addition to 2 tracks that retain the hardcore hip-hop/boombap sound, there are a couple of rock covers that I could have done without confronting issues like divorce, addiction, grief, anxiety, working class struggle, faith, redemption, and the long road to acceptance.
Rating: 7/10
