In 2005, The Professional aka Pro the Leader released the second installment of his "Pro Laboratory" series, two years after his collaborative effort with Wu-Tang Clan affiliated rapper Warcloud. This time, Warcloud has no input on the project, which is almost entirely produced by Monstar Mob beatmaker Skarekrow, while three beats are crafted by Pro the Leader. The group also features guests Leviathan and Onslawt, as well as Skarekrow himself and Vulgar.
After the intro, Skarekrow immediately crafts a tight, tense and dark beat for "Welcome", where Pro the Leader performs with a tight and fast flow. Gorgeous dirty strings accompany the author's fluid rapping. The third choice features another tight production, dirty loops, dry dusty drums midtempo hard, delivery with no concessions by Pro the Leader. Skarekrow continues to surprise behind the keys with "Losing Is Not An Option": fat bass line, snappy hi-hats, drum smoothed out by hi-hats, tight loop, tight rapping by Monstar Mob Skarekrow and Leviathan alongside Pro the Leader.
Two solo cuts from Pro the Leader follow on cheap and a bit too tight productions from Skarekrow, who doesn't get the right loops in these cases. "Stop You Right in Your Tracks" has an annoying high-pitched keyboard, poor loose heavy drum, rough rusty bass, the rhythm doesn't work. "Let the Breakers Break" features similar production, poor, rough rusty bass, poor drum, random synth sounds while the rapper drops bars with an average style. "Just in Case You Wanna Know" has an interesting rhythm, drums and samples sound dance, tight vocal loop: on this uptempo beat Pro the Leader flows nicely flanked by rapper Onslawt, who gets on the beat delivering bars with a slow, almost spoken word style, effortless, carefree.
Skarekrow delivers another uptempo production for the next joint, where Vulgar joins The Professional on the mic to rip out the dark piece: drums sparse tight, gloomy piano in the background, soft bass line, good beat, not great. The author rides on the wings of enthusiasm for a minute on a cartoonish production by Skarekrow in "The Pro". The tenth production by the Monstar Mob beatmaker follows: midtempo sparse drum, elegant descending piano keys, robust bass line, solid rhythm. Pro the Leader descends with a loose and fluid delivery style, effortless. The Professional replaces Skarekrow behind the keyboards for the first time since the beginning of the album in "On the Brink of Insanity": minimal sparse drum, unclear chaotic sounds in the background, the author drops a verse and leaves a second one to the guest Vulgar, who boasts a sick flow appropriate with the theme of the track.
"Dead Corpse" is one of the most effective soundscapes of Skarekrow: dry midtempo drum, Christmas bells, frenetic piano, great rhythm on which Pro the Leader has fun spitting bars with a dynamic flow. It's quite curious that some of the best rhythms of this tape end after a little over a minute. The author of the record is still in production for the following two pieces: "Rigorous Raps" has a heavy beat, minimal downtempo poor drums, totally annoying sounds to support his delivery along with Onslawt's. The title track has similar problems to the previous cut in terms of rhythm: frenetic hi-hats, minimal drums, annoying sharp loops, the beat doesn't work. For the outro Skarekrow invents a production that has cinematic elements and puts the tape back on the right track.
Released under his own label, is reissue by Black Stone of Mecca and Know the Names Music Group in 2020 with a different cover and slightly different title. It's an appropriate sequel to the debut, despite not having too many strong moments nor the rather strong presence of a co-pilot like Warcloud, who often goes beyond the boundary of what could be your typical battle rap. Skarekrow's work behind the keys is competent, he rarely makes mistakes, Pro the Leader's work on the mic is equally competent, unfortunately the tape doesn't have many elements to distinguish itself from other records on the independent circuit. 6/10.
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