Almighty — The 2nd Coming

Five years after their first album, the group Almighty returns to release a second effort. The project is also known as "Canibus Presents Almighty: The 2nd Coming". Under the will of Canibus, only a guest on the other album, the group returns with a new lineup including Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna, Planet Asia, also a guest on the first edition, and Nino Graye. Only Bronze Nazareth and M-80, Canibus' manager, remain in the group since 2008. Bus himself comes from the infamous historic battle against Dizaster.

JP Beats is the main producer of the effort, Kevlaar 7 creates several rhythms, Bronze Nazareth and Domingo realize a beat each. DJ JS-1 is credited with most of the scratches, DJ Dyems is the author of those in the track "Blacktop Stock & Word Bond". The guests are Vinnie Paz, P. Dinero, Kurupt, KXNG Crooked, Chino XL, Killah Priest, Tragedy Khadafi, Kool G Rap, Masta Killa, Flawless MC, Busta Rhymes and Block McCloud.

After the intro there's "Papyrus Prophecies", heavy and synthesized boom bap production by DJ JS-1 and JP Beats, energetic rapping by M-80 that starts the album, Canibus continues with a rough, raw, loose style, good flow. Cappadonna in the third verse with his irregular and messy style, closes Planet Asia. "High Price Shots" boasts a light boom bap, with sweet piano keys and a robust drum to accommodate Vinnie Paz, whose rough raw rusty delivery contrasts well with the melody of the beat. The hook is made up of scratches of samples from Canibus, Killah Priest, Vinnie Paz himself and KRS. Good attack by Bronze on the second verse, effortless flow, regular. Canibus' voice also contrasts well with the gracefulness of the rhythm chosen by JP Beats, good contribution. Planet Asia on the final verse with a regular flow.

"The Good Life" has a modern and glossy production, simple boom bap that accompanies the effortless style of Cappadonna, here calm, quiet, solid. Nino Graye and P. Dinero complete a cut that adds nothing to the record. The next posse includes M-80, Cappadonna and Bronze Nazareth along with guest Kurupt of The Four Horsemen on a modern boom bap production. Don Cappachino and Kurupt better than the others on this beat, Bronze also good. After a skit, another interesting posse arrives, on a modern and lively production, with synthesized keyboard: KXNG Crooked of Slaughterhouse launches the posse strongly with a hardcore verse with a great flow, hook composed of scratched samples (including one by Cappadonna from "Super Model"), Planet Asia continues with a good concentrated flow. Cappadonna enters hardcore and delivers slow, regular, good on this sound solution. Chino XL sweeps away the rhythm with a sensational entrance and a stunning delivery.

JP Beats is behind the keyboards also in "Espionage", elementary boom bap, good drum, dusty, a stanza each for Planet Asia, Nino Graye and Canibus, this last one sounds much better than the others on this dark production, with the Michael Jackson sample echoing in the background. "Fly Away Legacy" is one of the most beautiful productions of the album, fantastic, thanks to the immense talent of Bronze Nazareth: soul sample left to breathe and doubled by another one made chipmunk, ideal midtempo dusty drum, bass line in the background, tender piano keys, exquisite beat by Bronze. Killah Priest opens the piece with a slow, calm, fluid, excellent flow. M-80 in the second verse, Nino Graye in the third with an average style, Bronze closes with a regular rapping.

"Immaculate Bosses" is produced by JP Beats, average boom bap, simplistic. Inside Cappadonna starts warming up with a hardcore delivery, Tragedy Khadafi is a guest with a good energetic contribution anticipating Planet Asia, Bronze in the fourth verse, Canibus closes. A skit precedes another posse, "F.A.M.", exquisite production by Domingo, boom bap, haunting pop trumpet, honest midtempo drum, average bass line, rhythm among the best on the record. Canibus opens hardcore appropriately in this cut, simple hook, Bronze continues with energy and a solid contribution, M-80 inspired on this sweet and bitter production by Domingo, delivers hardcore with his straight to straight style that reminds me of Shorty Shitstain in his best days. Nino Graye has the honor and the burden of bringing home the track with the last stanza, he enters focused, inspired, spits with energy.

Cheap boom bap production by JP for the following posse, centered on the theme of gang life: M-80 opens hardcore, continues Planet Asia after a short hook made of samples, good rap, Masta Killa calm and Cappadonna energetic to certify that this track is Wu-Tang, Canibus puts the seals on the cut, one of the rare pieces in which Don Cappachino lyrically stands out above all for his socio-conscious contribution, it's unreal. JP Beats also tries to make a Bronze here by placing a robust boom bap with an honest drum and a chipmunk soul sample that sounds a bit watered down. Cappadonna attacks the beat as if the Abbot was still behind the keyboards and spits with so much confidence that you have to go and check again that the cover doesn't have the W symbol somewhere, also lyrically it brings you something close to storytelling, the Don in this album is in one of his best and most inspired moments ever. Nino Graye is trying hard but struggles to stay at that level, Planet Asia calmly and relaxedly faces the production offered by JP, extra verse of Canibus who sets the table, sits down and calmly eats the track.

JP Beats creates a rhythm for the club in "Over & Out", Nino Graye on the first verse, Bronze follows with a decent flow, Flawless I don't understand what he's doing. Planet Asia then Canibus on the fifth with the usual extra-verse, no one sounds good on this cheap and shoddy beat, very poor. Skit outro that precedes a sort of bonus, "American Dream (Remix)". Modern boom bap production by JP Beats. Intro by Busta and Cappadonna, pop hook by Block McCloud sung. Busta Rhymes on the first verse, slow, hardcore, Canibus, slow and hardcore like Busta, Bronze ok, last verse by Cappadonna (even if the genius site indicates that there's Block McCloud), who destroys the beat with a rough hardcore contribution.

Album without highlights, weak tracks or low points, it has honest production but nothing really stands out. After publishing with Babygrande in 2008, the Almighty is released by RBC Records, the same label of Planet Asia, Canibus and Cappadonna. The album doesn't get a response from critics and fans, leading to the closure of the group that will lead to solo projects. In 2015, Bronze Nazareth and Canibus release a collaborative album.

Rating: 6/10.