Brooklyn-based emcee and producer Von Pea reunites with The Other Guys for his fourth solo album. Currently 1/2 of Tanya Morgan alongside Donwill, he later launched a solo career with 2007’s debut mixtape Grand Vonye, as well as follow-up albums So Motivational: The Most Skullduggery of Mixtapes and full-length debut album Pea’s Gotta Have It. Just after it was officially noticed. The EP was produced when Mighty Joe & Isaiah began working with Von on the “To: You EP” and their sophomore works “The Fiasco” and “I’m Good Luv”, and the “Enjoy EP” respectively. The last we heard from Von himself was his last album City for Sale & Duly Noted 2, and The Other Guys reviewed the album and suggested putting Putcha Weight on it.
“More Johnny” opens with a booming instrumental explaining that even though he’s gone, his legendary status will continue to be talked about, while “Roadblock” featuring Che Noir finds the pair talking about people clapping on barriers and trying to rap on Black Thought. The title track, featuring Tanya Morgan with Skyzoo, gives off a dusty jazz-rap vibe that’s stronger than initially stated, while “Lights On” talks about Fourth Stage being the type of shit that keeps the power on.
Meanwhile, on “Slide Off with Her Homie,” Von continues to bring that old-school boom-bap style to the table, telling us what he’d do to a skeezer if she couldn’t see how silly he is, until “Hains Point” goes in a jazzier direction again, like they gave him some kind of bribe. Oddisee’s “Knew It All” straddles elements of jazz rap and boom bap, responding to those who act like they know it all before “Love Over Like” lovingly talks about romance.
“Shown Up Me” begins with Putcha Weight in the final moments, the drums constantly fading in and out like waves bending, and every time he makes an album, going into “Bway & Myrtle,” he talks about sampling organ in the off-season when he doesn’t need more than seven people. “Root for the Villain” wraps it all up with a funky outro that recalls one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists and producers, the late MF DOOM.
“Fiasco” has been my favorite Von Pea solo work to date, and to mark its 8th anniversary yesterday, “Putcha Weight on It” has improved upon the divisive feedback “I’m Good Luv, Enjoy” received, although I personally don’t mind that it was released 10 months after “City of Sale”‘s previous album. He & The Other Guys liken their chemistry to when the late king of pop, Michael Jackson, reunited with revolutionary songwriter Quincy Jones after seven years to create a series of jazz-boom hits.
Score: 8/10
