Royce da 5'9" EP, curiously ignored. The guy spits hardcore for three quarters of an hour divided into dozen tracks. Production is handled by DJ Premier, AntMan Wonder, Streetrunner, Mr. Porter, Nottz, AraabMUZIK, Jake One, Jahlil Beats, DJ Pain 1, S1 and J. Rhodes. Guests are Tiara, Styles P, Westside Gunn, Conway, Black Thought, Assassin, and Smoke DZA. Kid Vishis gets a solo cut.
The project is dynamic, has a varied production and there's a competent choice of guests. Kid Vishis has a good showcase with his "Mind Right", Black Thought is fit on "Rap on Steroids", Smoke DZA provides bars with a relaxed delivery on the title track. Westside Gunn & Conway deliver LOX-style, back n forth, on "The Banjo", closed by Styles which kills the cut with a tight verse. The other title track, "Tabernacle", is the clear highlight of the tape and of the subsequent studio album "Layers": Royce delivers one of his most personal tracks with commendable delivery on excellent soundscape. Last but not least, "Dead Pre$idents Heads": on a wonderful beat by Streetrunner, Nickel Nine spits bars for seven minutes. "Wait" ends up on the studio album, "Black History" becomes the first song in "PRhyme 2".
Solid tape and certainly among the best released by Royce, it boasts many high points, some good passable tracks and no shoddy choice until "Digest". This is a weak track, perhaps meant for charts or for going to clubs, I really have no idea how it could have been conceived: Mr. Porter deceives the listener by catching an acceptable rhythm in the Kid Vishis solo, and then returns to disappoint with this production.
Highlights: "Black History", "Dead Presidents Heads", "The Banjo", "Tabernacle".
Rating: 7.5/10.
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