Year of the Beast

VINYL FORMAT. "The thing about Year of the Beast is that after listening to it you can't really fault it for anything. It's got all the elements that make great hip hop. Good music, fat drums and intelligent lyrics, although there's sometimes a lack of the darkness we've come from projects associated with Def Jux. Instead, C-Rayz, after a year and a half of seclusion, has fashioned a consistently fresh album through the relentless thump of the bass lines and his lyrical prowess.

Vocal donations come from Rob Sonic, Jean Grae, 4th Pyramid, Pudge, the aforementioned El-P and M-1 of Dead Prez, amongst others; but few of them fail to eclipse C-Rayz who stamps his poetic elegance all over the album. On tracks like 'Say Werd,' 'Black Soap' and 'First Words Worse',' he excels himself and the end product can't help but make your head nod.

Year of the Beast would be a welcome addition to any record collection as it offers a truly innovative and original style and you can't falter C-Rayz as he spins his words. Holding some gems within its cover, the album leaves you ultimately enthused, although some tracks do get a little old too early.