From spearheading the Golden Era’s Black Moon within the greater Boot Camp Clik to present day, Buckshot has maintained a vested interest towards the underground’s preservation as both artist and co-founder of Duck Down’s enterprise. Amongst the label’s various business dealings, North Carolina producer 9th Wonder’s Jamla imprint has granted a platform and financial backing for uncompromising music – a union beneficial to all involved. Continuing their ongoing metaphor for cooking up in the lab (precursors being Chemistry and The Formula), 9th Wonder and Buckshot’s latest shared vision has resulted in The Solution.
Nearing 20 years since his arrival to Hip Hop, The Solution has Buckshot readily leading an audience that has grown with him over this time. With regards to its ambiguous and possibly cocky title, the album is full of fiery conviction as the rapper steadily defies irrelevance finding harmony with 9th Wonder’s trademark soul sound. Telling his fabled story of survival within the industry and streets, “What I Gotta Say,” “Crazy,” and “Keep It Going” all convey a wisdom removed from ego and false pretense as Buckshot is ever grateful for the opportunity to still be heard.
Bringing listeners further into his world, “The Feeling” is Buckshot’s letter to a disloyal tramp, “Pat Em Down” addresses a comrade turned police informant, and “Shorty Left” (featuring female Jamla sensation Rapsody) details the struggles that come with balancing independent Rap life and a marriage. These facets show a talent at crafting songs comprised of more than vanity and macho boasts of longevity, though “Stop Rapping” and a few other selections are designed to please standoffish enthusiasts. Aside from small imperfections such as Dyme-A-Duzin’s off-key singing on “You,” The Solution once again combines Buckshot and 9th Wonder’s accomplished and refined skill sets as pioneers of the ’90s and the past decade respectively.
