Warcloud, with all its many aliases, has always been one of the most active Wu Killa Beez members and over the decades he has started and taken part in many collateral projects to his solo activity, perhaps only Killah Priest or the ubiquitous Rhyme Recca are in more groups than him. The MC of Los Angeles in 2019 founds a new musical collaboration that takes the name of Armor of God and which, unlike most Warcloud groups, it boasts only one other member, Pro the Leader.
Produced by an entity that has definitely taken on the role of Chambermusik in recent years, Black Stone of Mecca, and from the Warcloud label Know the Names Music Group, the project is in effect a direct and unofficial ramification of another of the many groups of the former Black Knights rapper, American Poets 2099, which also includes Pro the Leader himself: the guests are Nova-Kane of American Poets 2099, Excalibur and Weapon-X of Mysterious, a group affiliated to American Poets 2099 and present in the last track, Masta of Ceremoniez of The Shield Enforcers (duo composed together with Pro the Leader), Dom Pachino of Killarmy, Crisis tha Sharpshooter of Black Knights (group with Warcloud), Black Sun aka Onslawt of Da Monstar Mob (other Warcloud group, of which he's cousin), Shaka Amazulu the 7th, Jus-P and Chino XL.
The production is almost entirely handled by Excalibur, the other rhythms are created by Ace Gauntlit of American Poets 2099, Skarekrow of Da Monstar Mob, XP of Mysterious, White Lotus, Prime Music and Gneticz. What differentiates this project from any of Warcloud's? Let's start with the cover. It could easily be the cover of the year: Warcloud in the center, covered by a silver armor from which the Wu-Tang Clan logo stands out on the left, modified to fit the H symbolizing the initial of the pseudonym with which he's best known (Holocaust), in the center another H, and on the right the symbol of the American Poets 2099, while on the rapper's right shoulder there's a skull, another key element in Warcloud's discography.
In support of the main rapper, three of the other protagonists of the project, including Pro the Leader, with the mic and the cap that again shows the symbol of the American Poets 2099. Warcloud's sword handle bears even more clearly the stylized Wu logo with the its H that, although stylized in a different way, it reminds a little that of Hell Razah, with whom he shares the fact that he owes his best solo album to the production of Blue Sky Black Death. Above, the silver title divides two mirrored angels shrouded in darkness amidst a lightning storm against a purple-pink background that looks almost glittery. The cover is brilliant everywhere, beautiful, Gary Alford has done a crazy job, the best of him so far, it's probably the cover of the year in hip-hop.
Secondly, the production is wonderful: light drums, ethereal melodic samples, great loops, beautiful vibrant bass lines in the background. It's one of the best sets on one of Warcloud's albums, there's not a single bad beat, and that always seems to be anything extraordinary on a hip-hop album. After the title track that introduces the album, "Going the Distance" is already one of the strongest moments of the project: celestial production, Warcloud, Pro the Leader, Nova-Kane and Masta of Ceremoniez fly on this rhythm, in particular the last two tear the track with excellent attacks to the limit of perfection, energetic, crisp and clean styles and a fluid, velvety, delicious, flawless deliveries. Throughout the album, Pro the Leader & Warcloud bring their best rapping and create a solid, great, coherent project and one of the gems of the year.
"The Juggernaut" represents the best song: Warcloud's calm, thoughtful, regular flow, fits in a totally complementary way to the heavenly guitar and to the elegant piano keys provided by White Lotus, in support of a perfect dusty midtempo drum and a magical bass line, while the emcee releases bars in a stream of consciousness that dominates the rhythm for less than a minute. The choice of letting the beat breathe half a minute at the end is commendable. Noteworthy is the posse "Mickey Rourke", with Masta of Ceremoniez and Chino XL on a Skarekrow production in this 2016 track, borrowed from the Shield Enforcers album. "You Don't Own Us", which pays homage to Leslie Gore's immortal masterpiece, is another pleasant choice among the many featured in this tape. "Death Before Dishonor" has one of the most beautiful and majestic productions of the project, and elevates the style of the performers.
Ultimately, I think it's one of the must-listen records for Warcloud fans. 7/10.
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