Longtime independent Hip Hop hustlers, The Bash Bros. have saturated the market with releases like Bastard Kidz, moving over 15,000 units from their Bay area home to beyond. The duo of Piseas and Lefty follow that up with a who’s-who of the underground appearing on Main Event, a funky and dynamic sophomore release.

A major part of Main Event‘s appeal is its nondescript sense of region. Though the group champions the west coast and rhyme checks include Too Short [click to read] and JT Tha Bigga Figga, “Rock The Spot” has universal appeal that bumps beyond the Bay. Sean Price [click to read] checks in with an as-expected outstanding featuring verse as he outdoes Lefty‘s simplistic bars about blunts and booze. Piseas closes the track with a melodic, syncopated delivery. In total, much of Main Event‘s subject matter is boxed in within the realm of weed, drinking and bragging. However, at times the rhymes can be quite meaningful. “Hustler’s Prayer” captures the sense of believing in oneself required to succeed in a cutthroat industry, amidst rules of DIY marketing that’s made the group survive without label backing. A beautiful, yet familiar sample leads the way with deft scratching for a beat that moves with the slow intensity of the lyrics.

Aside from Architect of Encore and Cali Agents fame, production is handled by relative newcomers B-Sides and Style Misia. The latter holds it down with the dual ability to bring original composition as well as sample using alternating methods. “Soul Sacrifice” uses a slow-pitch Soul sample with chirped up vocals to create an appealing horn composition. “Until Next Time” possesses the energy and charm to reach radio, while Architect‘s “Hustlen All My Life” shows the careful approach that made him a go-to throughout the top of the decade. Still, regardless of who’s behind the boards, choruses remain something intended for great live performing, but sounding a bit more contrived on a CD, holding back the brothers Bash.

With Living Legends, Jurassic 5 and Dilated Peoples personnel showing up for Main Event, the pedigree here ain’t hard to tell. While Lefty and Piseas advance tremendously into the circle of their peers with a strong album, the duo gets it right in several places, leaving room for improvement in others.