Oakland, California host Lateef the Truthspeaker teams up with Nick Andre for his second official show. As a member of the group Quannum Projects, in addition to their subgroups Latyrx as well as Lateef & the Chief and The Mighty Underdogs, his first few solo mixtapes Ahead of the Curve included Truth is Love and Truth at Sea in his 2011 Even before their official debut, FireWire surpassed them in terms of quality. Thirteen years later, he and Nick are bringing more experimental hits to the underground music scene.
“Show Love” is a sample-driven trap opener that requires his flowers, as he’s been in the game for 30 years, while “Tic Tac Toe” takes a calmer route, relying heavily on drums on the instrument Let’s talk about my persistence. Following the first of 3 “Slap” skits, “Things Never Seen Before” is a psychedelic reminder that He’s the Coldest Pen, sung by Phesto from Hieroglyphics group Souls of Mischief The bassy “Watch What You Say” gets everyone in their place.
As for “California Sober,” we’re preceded by “Snake Bite” featuring late Zion I frontman Baba Zumbi and Deuce Eclipse, with Lateef going for the fight seven times in a row over a playful and fun beat crafted by Nick. People they turn a blind eye to. “Guns 2,” starring Jumbo and nOOdy Oddy, follows another “Slap” short and serves as a sequel to the 2018 syndicated series that picks up where its predecessor left off, followed by “Freed Up” starring Baba Zumbi and Deuce Eclipse ”, aimed at converting non-believers.
On “Started Dreaming Again,” by Aima the Dreamer, the pair talk about recent dreams together, and they begin to touch their pens, while the low boom beat of “Gift of Gab,” featuring the late Blackalicious “Waiting on My Time to Come” expresses this point eerily. After the “Slap” skit at the end, “Not Asking” feels like a cool tribute to one of my favorite bands, A Tribe Called Quest, and “Last Night” featuring Slug takes it Take it back to the basement and talk about how no one is trying to eat your peace.
Latyrx joins Baba Zumbi, Hieroglyphics’ Casual, The Grouch of the Living Legends and former The Pack member Lil B for the sequel to Life is Awesome, expressing their gratitude for how life has treated them. Ends Lateef’s long-awaited follow-up to FireWire with a heartfelt tribute to Baba Zumbi, who passed away in the summer of 2021 on the 48th anniversary of the formation of hip-hop culture.
Experimental Slap was made primarily during the pandemic, during a time of great change, turmoil, and personal revelation, filled with fun and love, as well as horror and tragedy. It’s emotional, smart, irreverent, and we never really liked the drama. In fact, there’s something dramatic about this album, as it reflects the time in which it was recorded. personal and political. Strong polarization and isolation coupled with extreme public connectivity and services. Humanity faces death.
Rating: 9/10
