“Anything that people are making, if it’s dope you can sell it, it’s just of matter of whoever’s marketing it” Begins, Phase 2 from the third installment of the Presents series from Definitive Jux. The highly acclaimed progressive indy hip-hop label releases its compilation to showcase their stalwart artists and new up-and-coming talent. With a roster that includes such independent all-stars as El-P, Mr. Lif, Aesop Rock, Murs and uberproducer RJD2 “Definitive Jux Presents III” is sure to be a solid album from cover to cover.
Aesop Rock winds his poetic words over the self-produced “All In All” that sets a vibe for what seems to be the future of the Jux sound. Following this effort is a NASA produced Carnage track that fails to entice. It does try to take it back to the origins of the Jukie style but this track lacks a certain El-P mystique. The next cut picks the progressive vibe up again as The Perceptionists (Mr. Lif, Akrobatik, Fakts One) flow over a very smooth beat from DJ Fakts One. This should certainly leave heads calling Doctors Lif and Akrobatik to surgery.
Towards the middle of the album Rob Sonic shines on “Dyslexia” and El-P produces a remix for newcomers Hangar 18 and is joined by fellow Weatherman Camu Tao for “WMR”, in which the duo proclaims to be ‘live in stere-ereo’. Camu’s group project S.A. Smash makes an appearance with “Devil In The Hole” where partner Metro vibes along to the Camu production, which leaves as the highlight on the middle of the record along with “Aquatic” by 4th Pyramid.
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Living Legend Murs shows up next to laid down a track with Aesop Rock behind the boards. Here Aesop shows his growth as a producer creating a hard hitting multi-leveled masterpiece for “You’re Dead To Me”. On “Oxycotin Pt. 2”, El-P is joined by the newest Jukie, former Eastern Conference emcee Cage to weave a masterful story of drug addiction, betrayal, and loving commitment. A pleasant surprise towards the end is Hangar 18 with their second track on this edition of Presents. DJ PaWL provides a stunning vocal sample and great melodic chimes on “Take No Chances”. Finally to close things out the listener comes to the soft tones and melodies of super-instrumentalist, DJ, producer RJD2. “Clean Living” showcases him at his finest and it seems to be a track flown right off the coattails of Dead Ringer. While RJ seems to be taking a different approach to his next solo effort it’s good to see the man still has it when it comes to making music that vibes perfectly in practically any situation.
With big releases from El-P, Murs, RJD2, Hangar 18 and Rob Sonic expected this year from Definitive Jux, this album perfectly sums up the moniker of progressive hip-hop that DJX so valiantly hold onto. This is another solid example of the lineup that Jux has at its disposal and there seems to be no slowing down.
