Altered Zones

A couple weeks ago, I posted an update on Squadda B and his mixtape, I Smoke Because I Don't Care About Death. This week, I've been digging into The Shady Bambino Project, Squadda's new ten-track mix with rapidfire MC Shady Blaze under the Green Ova DJ family/label.

Let me start by saying that yes, these dudes are still way weeded-out; the atmosphere is thick and syrupy with chopped vocal angelics and ominous keys, lashed together with stuttering drum rumbles, claps, and snaps. Squadda's spacious production leaves ample room for Shady's fast-paced spitting-- and his endurance is unreal, considering how much purp these dudes allegedly blow. This might be my favorite overall collection of songs from this camp, who seem to be getting better and better with time; it's certainly their most cohesive work to date.

My favorite tracks are the ones that sound the most urgent, like "Green Ova Takin Ova" and "The Beginning." The former, below, is like a warning. Shady is making sure you know that Green Ova is the shit, so that in the future, when Green Ova has actually taken over, you don't blame them for not telling you how ill they were way-back-when. They've got a point, and now you can't say I didn't tell you either. --Ian Nelson, Friendship Bracelet

MP3: Shady Blaze & Squadda B: "Green Ova Takin Ova"

Download The Shady Bambino Project for free via Bandcamp