In 2006 The Professional aka Pro the Leader released this album independently. Skarekrow produced most of the record, The Professional signed four beats. Credited guests are Warcloud and Vulgar.
The disk opens with the title track. Fantastic production by Skarekrow: pleasant hi-hat, piano loop in the background, dry drum midtempo, chipmunk soul samples. On this soundscape, Pro the Leader announces the album. A male soul sample opens "Where's My Appreciation", phat bass line, dirty drum midtempo, dark and gloomy samples in the background, excellent gothic rhythm by Skarekrow. Vulgar attacks with an irregular, hardcore style and tears the cut, while Pro the Leader goes down to sew with a regular, calm, loose flow.
Choice number three features a production a bit more similar to those heard in the "Pro's Laboratory" series a few years earlier, in fact behind the keyboards there's Pro the Leader: continuously dusted cymbals, uptempo drums, rough rough bass, tight rhythm, good rap by the author. The beatsmith of Monstar Mob returns behind the keyboards in "Credability Stack of Pens" aka "Stacks of Pens" and provides another masterpiece: tight looped horns, fat bass line, dusty midtempo drum, gloomy piano keys, dark mood. Chorus by Warcloud, steady delivery by Pro the Leader with some acceleration. The production could go on for five minutes, instead after ninety seconds it's over.
"Massacre Juntion" on the reissue of Black Stone of Mecca (preceded by the bonus track "Hip Hop Authenticity" ft. Skarekrow) is present in a long version that is a posse with Vulgar, Anti the Decimator and Warcloud. The boys drop a verse each on a tight production by Skarekrow, sparse drums harsh uptempo, tense violins, fat bass line. An interlude anticipates the tribal bongos of "Well Prepared" and the last beat of Pro the Leader on the record, "Enter the Mind of the Professional": dry drum midtempo, rough bass, minimal raw rhythm, regular rap by the author. Skarekrow invents a fresh musical carpet for "Changin with the Times": rattles, solid bass, dry drum midtempo, sick keyboards, fluid rapping by Pro the Leader on this dynamic production. The rhythm deservedly breathes a minute at the end.
The same producer creates the following beat for "Greedy": elegant piano, sick keys, thick bass line, heavy midtempo drum, loose rapping by Pro the Leader. "Nowadays" features a basic hi-hat, uptempo drum, steam train sound, Pro the Leader drops verses inspired by this eclectic production by Skarekrow. Dark and dissonant piano keys welcome Pro the Leader in "HipHop the Best Part of Everyday", where the boy recites a short hook before letting loose bars with a flowing style. Dirty dusty drum uptempo, dotted bass, piano. Warcloud enters without asking permission and rips the track with irregular rapping. On the Black Stone of Mecca edition the tape is closed by a funky instrumental bonus track produced by Pro the Leader.
In 2023 Black Stone of Mecca, in collaboration with Know the Names Music Group, released it as the second album in a trilogy of Pro the Leader projects, adding the aforementioned bonus tracks and remastering the album. The result is, at times, sensational. Skarekrow's production is sublime, unfortunately, some of the best choices behind the keyboards aren't fully exploited, while Pro the Leader sharpens his pen and delivers some of his best lyrics in what is one of his strongest solo albums, possibly the finest. 7/10.
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