In 2003, this collaborative effort between Californian rappers Warcloud and The Professional bka Pro the Leader was released. The production was split equally between The Professional, who wrote six tracks, and beatmaker Skarekrow of Warcloud's group Da Monstar Mob, who came up with the other seven beats. Guests included Vulgar (affiliated with Warcloud), Leviathan & Onslot of Da Monstar Mob, Bootface, and Road Block.
After a short intro, the project opens with a KRS sample that gives the title to the second track: boom bap by Skarekrow, drum sparse midtempo, raw bass line, regular energetic delivery by Pro the Leader who recites braggadocio lyrics in a battle. Warcloud adds some violence to his battle with an extra-verse that allows him to tear the cut, comparing himself to the Wu-Tang boys. Dissonant piano keys welcome the listener in the third choice, poor uptempo drum machine, honest beat by Skarekrow, quick delivery by the two performers, simple hook. "Old Gator Men" boasts a scratchy rockin rhythm created by Pro the Leader: excellent midtempo harsh drum, wonderful guitar riff, raw bass. Slow hardcore delivery by the two performers, as usual a battle by Pro the Leader corresponds to a more violent and dark battle by Warcloud, third verse reserved for the guest Road Block, in what is definitely one of the tightest cuts of the album.
Pro the Leader stays behind the keyboards in the title track, pairing a fat bass line with a dry midtempo harsh drum to support his bars. "Cold American Beach" is sometimes credited as a Warcloud feat. Pro the Leader track, because it's also included on Warcloud aka Alcatraz's album "Jigsaw Puzzle", released around the same time. Rough beat by Skarekrow, sparse drums, tight hi-hats. Raw hardcore delivery from the performers who provide abstract battles, as usual Warcloud's is more violent, dark and deadly than The Professional's. Also, Warcloud keeps reminding you that he's a Wu-Tang affiliate. The seventh pick is a Warcloud solo over Pro's rough production: the boy drops a single verse with a slow and irregular style.
Skarekrow returns to the beat in "Paralysis Pharmacies": rough and cheap boom bap rhythm, tight loop, rough and grumpy raw hardcore delivery from The Professional. The guest Vulgar enters with a similar style, irregular, inspired. Short verse by Pro the Leader, then Vulgar returns with a fourth stanza leaving room for an extra-verse by Warcloud recited with some amazing breathless rapping. This is the first of three consecutive appearances by Vulgar. The boy joins Pro the Leader in "Collapse Palm" on a beat created by Pro the Leader, slow and heavy drum, rough bass line, the boys play confidently here. The tenth choice sees Vulgar again at the mic with Warcloud and Pro the Leader. Production by Skarekrow, midtempo skinny drum, tight fat bass, splendid synths keyboards, dark soundscape. Vulgar opens the dance with a rough, raw and irregular rapping, Warcloud sounds calmer and regular in the second stanza, and Pro the Leader also presents a regular style by dropping his extra-verse.
Skarekrow is also the producer of "Scarce": phat bass line, uptempo skeletal drum, snappy hi-hats, dirty and dusty horns, ethereal vocal sample. The rhythm is left to breathe wisely for a minute. Energetic entrance by Pro the Leader, it is one of his best entrances on this record, the boy drops bars with a composed, tidy, regular, flowing flow. The rhythm is left to breathe at the height of the hook, then Pro delivers a few more bars to then leave room for the guests arrived from the group of Warcloud Da Monstar Mob. Leviathan recites his lyrics with a calm, regular, fluid style, offering a good contribution. Onslot aka Onslawt aka Black Sun, cousin of Warcloud and Leviathan, is a nice addition to the piece: he enters with lucidity and coolness, delivering bars with a regular, precise, excellent, metrically correct rapping style, a rarity on an independent record. Certainly among the best joints of the tape.
The following choice transports the listener towards the end of the album: last beat by Skarekrow, good boom bap, poor uptempo drum, sparkling keys, Pro the Leader drops with a slower rap than usual, accompanied by a long hook by Warcloud. "Laboratory Ellequence" is then inserted even in the third chapter of the "Pro's Laboratory" series. Pro the Leader closes this collaborative album with a self-produced solo: sparse midtempo drum, phat bass line robust and deep, beautiful dusty strings in the background. On this splendid musical carpet, the boy delivers the last bars of the album with a pleasant style.
Independently released on The Professional own label, this is one of the first studio albums from both Pro the Leader and Warcloud. It features raw, cheap production and loose rapping from both performers. It can be an interesting listen for Warcloud fans. In 2020, Black Stone of Mecca decides to re-release the "Pro's Laboratory" trilogy of albums, refreshing this album, including some contributions from Pro the Leader's new group American Poets 2099, placing a wonderful bonus track ("Disaster Area") made with American Poets 2099 and an outro to close the album, and designing an appropriate cover for the project.
Rating: 6.5/10.
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