$auce Heist & Camoflauge Monk — SaucexMonk EP

"King Kong Ain't Got Nothing on Me!". It's hard to find a project in 2017 that enters stronger than did this collaborative extended play between up-and-coming Brooklyn rapper $auce Heist and Buffalo-based producer Camoflauge Monk, who established himself in the underground circuit of the New York scene producing some of the best projects of Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, Mach-Hommy, Tha God Fahim and Hus Kingpin. Denzel Washington's line as Alonzo Harris in "Training Day" (2001) is preceded by some gunshots so heavy that they seem to come from a Desert Eagle and introduces the first track, "Ronin".

Camoflauge Monk fires up some venomous strings and lace them together with a female vocal sample in a swirling loop, then he drops a dusty dirty downtempo drum, adds a solid bass line and piano keys that are as dark as they are magical. $auce Heist finds himself on one of the best beats of the year. The guy delivers bars inheriting some of the firmest, smoothest flows from Brooklyn's finest emcees and he's got it right, fueled by faithfully accompanying downtempo drum, beefy bass and dark piano. Skit, then the project's first guest arrives, Bronx rapper Ty da Dale, he proves to be an essential addition and closes what is incredibly one of the must of the year for any boom bap head. Camoflauge lets the beat breathe for a few moments in the end, deservedly so, it's a masterpiece.

"Savage Sauce" is another pearl of this collaborative tape between $auce Heist and Camoflauge Monk. Monk's beautiful beat, with an echoing male soul sample, elevated by guitar arpeggios, a keyboard in the background, and a lone violin that seems to go somberly on his behalf. The beat boasts a dark mood like the previous one, but while "Ronin" has a more "open" and "cinematic epic" soul, "Savage Sauce" appears as a much more personal and almost intimate beat. $auce Heist enters along with the drums and delivers in a dope way, Sav Killz maybe doesn't have the best style for this beat, but it's still good, before a skit.

"Saeed" is opened by the producer's tag recited by Westside Gunn and a skit that goes on over a male vocal sample that keeps coming back. Heavy vibrating bassline in the background, downtempo dusty drum, slow and calm rap from Brooklyn emcee putting another highlight in this EP. On track number four, the boys deliver another gem. Ethereal female soul sample, downtempo drum at the edge of perfection, clamorous rhythm, $auce Heist slows down his flow while maintaining an enjoyable rapping. The project is completed by the fifth pick, "Drunken Monk". Skit, then cinematic rhythm that transports you directly to the Orient with a flute that sounds like a son of Zamfir, loaded bass line, excellent keyboard, crackling vinyl in the background, downtempo drum. Camoflauge Monk is also a guest on the fifth composition of an immaculate soundscape that the man has designed for this extended play.

Where has this EP been hidden all this time? Crazy. One of the best projects of the year 2017. 8.5/10.