New album by Sunz of Man 13 years after their last effort, a compilation, and 16 years after their last official LP. The album features the four members, without Shabazz, and with a limited contribution from Hell Razah after the aneurysm that struck him in 2010. The first side features exclusively songs by the guys in the group produced solely by DJ B Original, then the second part of the CD — also sold in a limited edition on vinyl — boasts several guests and various producers.
The album is introduced by a solo by Hell Razah on a tense beat with dark-gothic veins well produced by DJ B. Original. The same beatmaker stays behind the keys for "Kingz", a duet between Prodigal Sunn and Hell Razah: the Red Hook emcee returns to form with a thick, well-spoken verse over elegant production, Prodigal Sunn completes the work with a timely conscious room and a brilliant execution, in what is certainly among the best cuts in the group's catalog. Hell Razah first verse is taken from "Black Kingz" (2008, "Digital Dope") aka "Dark Ages".
The third track is a solo by Sunzini who drops a couple of sharp verses over a tormented production highlighted by a trembling piano and a syncopated drum. The following cut is the first not produced by DJ B. Original, behind the keys take turns M. Archacki & B. Cayer L.T.D. Production: the boys deliver a solid and nostalgic, dusty, nineties-reminiscent boom bap that is the perfect soundscape for Sunz of Man. 60 Sec has fun starting loosely and ending with a complete homage to the Wu-Tang Clan, inserting a reference to every single original member of the Staten Island group in his verse. P Sunn attacks the beat like in the best of times, energetic, punctual, precise, delivers at his best, then Killah Priest comes to close the track with a phenomenal dirty contribution.
DJ B. Original returns with class, elegance, pure style for the next track, which sees the same protagonists behind the mic. Oriental melodies, Priest accompanies them calmly, then a heavy bass line drops, Priest also now seems to revive, the drum arrives, lean, smooth, clean, the boy delivers bars with a lethal, beautiful, silky flow. After a good hook, Prodigal Sunn carries on the track with a velvety, calm, fluid style, hook, third verse entrusted to 60 Second Assassin, with his personal style, different from the others, compared to everyone, almost fragmented, great piece. Hell Razah returns to the album in "Food for The Soul", flanked by Sunzini on the last production of the album entrusted to DJ B. Original, who also in this case doesn't make mistakes. Unlike the previous rhythms, this solution is uptempo, the boys manage it well and jump pleasantly on this sunny boom bap enhanced by an acoustic guitar.
"Medicine" opens the second part of the album, where Prodigal Sunn is mainly joined by guests on beats created by Salvee One Production. The first track boasts two exceptional collaborators from the Wu universe, namely the tenth official member of the Wu-Tang Clan Cappadonna and the veteran Planet Asia, who has made so many collaborations with the Clan boys and affiliates that he can also boast a personal compilation ("Wu Planet"). On a plaintive boom bap production, with dark samples and a bouncing drum, Cappadonna launches the track in an energetic and messy way, Sunn in the second verse with a good flow, Planet Asia closes with a great attack and an excellent style to complete the track.
The next cut boasts an excellent beat forged by Salvee One Production, inside Killa Beez Chi King (of Brooklyn Zu) and La the Darkman, both historic Wu affiliates, supporting Prodigal Sunn: the boys don't make mistakes on a sensational boom bap production conceived by the producer, beautiful soundscape, dope, ecstatic, astonishing, great smoothness flow of the performers who carve what is with ease and certainty one of the best pieces of the album.
Sunzini returns alone after some time with "Bonafide Measures" on a sharp boom bap production by Salvee One Production. The tenth choice is a work that presents the return of Two on da Road, the duo formed by P Sunn and 12 O'Clock of Brooklyn Zu. Also featured is Tristate from the West Coast, on a dark boom bap production with a great sample, accurate drum, exquisite samples, splendid melody, the boys don't make mistakes and deliver a magnificent pearl in this fantastic album.
"The Light" sees the return to the mic of 60 Second Assassin and Killah Priest together with Prodigal Sunn on a dark and bouncy boom bap rhythm created by M. Archacki & Cayer LTD Production, at the second and last production on the album. The track also features Makeba Mooncycle, Sunzini's sister who closes the track with style. The tape closes with "Black Santz", a track in which Shaka Amazulu joins Prodical on a production by Cortardz, good tense and sharp boom bap on which the two deliver bars for a couple of minutes.
For the first time in his career, Prodigal Sunn is the lead artist on a Sunz of Man album with 11 appearances on 12 tracks, all but the intro. Hell Razah, Killah Priest and 60 Second Assassin each have three appearances. P Sunn is in his best moment of career and it shows throughout the album, bringing Sunz of Man back to its essence and roots, although the album isn't constructed as a group effort, especially in the second half. Released on X-Ray Records, where the group had already released "Elements" fifteen years earlier, the record cements Sunz of Man as the best Wu-affiliated group with an enviable catalog. 8/10.
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