Fresh Brew by Coughee Brothaz
Before Wiz Khalifa was rolling papers and Curren$y had his sights set on Jets International, Devin The Dude and Odd Squad were grinding out notable anthems that celebrated their affection for Mary Jane. Similar to Smoke Sessions Vol. 1 and Waitin’ Our Turn, the Coughee Brothaz collective continue their carefree approach to life with Fresh Brew. Laid-back records like “Blunts & Pens” and “Who Got That Funk?” are self-explanatory as the crew burn through their fair share of grass while vibing to admirable production. On the lyrical front, the Coughee Brothaz rarely challenges their listeners, instead focusing more on the delivery of their flow. This method works in most cases, such as the prudent advice given out on handling the opposite sex (“Garden Tool”) or when they discuss the sacrifices that arise when hustling for a dollar (“Backstrokin’”). However, undistinguishable records like “I Can’t Do It” and “Pair Of Lips” blur their nonchalant verses together, while “I Love Getting’ Stoned” features a weak performance from the ‘Coughee Sistaz’. Fresh Brew doesn’t provide much depth; that much is evident. However, if you’re in need of a quick hit, the Coughee Brothaz got you covered here.
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Ceremony by Mexicans With Guns
Though the album title Ceremony may suggest a temperate mood behind its melodies, the music supplied by Ernest Gonzales more so settles as spiritual pandemonium. Better known by his stage name Mexicans With Guns, Gonzales tiptoes the line between Hip Hop drum patterns, crawling electro synth and dub step bloops while also blending a Latin vibe within his instrumentals. Perfect examples of this style turn up on “Dame Lo” and “Jaguar.” Showing his range, the producer partners up with emcees Freddie Gibbs (“Highway To Hell”) and Nocando (“Got Me F_cked Up”), who brandish their lyrical prowess accordingly. However, it’s tracks like “Death And Rebirth” where Gonzales alone provides turbulent arrangements that no words could account for. Filled with intensity and energy, Ceremony is an audacious project that should separate Mexicans With Guns from the current monotonous collection of conservative deejays.
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Odd Seasons by Oddisee
For Washington, DC producer/emcee Oddisee, sampling is a craft that knows no bounds. From Foot In The Door to Traveling Man, Oddisee has painted vivid backdrops with his ASR, to the point that his catalog respectively holds up against any current producer in mind. His latest opus is Odd Seasons, which spans four seasons (hence the album title) of musical comfort for the ears. Radiant cuts like “The Richers” and “When Everything Changed” immediately warm the atmosphere, whereas “Everyday People” and “Saw Myself Today” glide effortlessly like a Sunday afternoon stroll in the park. Oddisee even creates a commendable samba piece with “Viva Brasil.” At 31 tracks Odd Seasons seldom misses the mark, though a cluttered performance on “Sand To The Beach” and a hollowed melody behind “Frost Bit” don’t quite illustrate the producer’s intentions. With that said, there’s enough good done here to omit these rare blunders from his record. Odd Seasons may have initially been introduced as four different seasonal EP’s, but this ripe collection of music makes it applicable for any time of the year.
