Self- Preservation
Encore's solo debut is one of those gems that begs to be experienced by the non-diggin'-in-the-crates crowd. First heard by many on "Waterworld" (fromThe Handsome Boy Modeling School comp), this Bay-area MC sounds something like an amalgam ofJeruandPlanet Asia, in terms of subject matter, cadence, wordplay, and delivery. His rapid-fire monotone flow shines bright on "Esoteric," where he boasts that "peons try to hate what we on / but still lean on my pillars of poetry." Unlike theJa Rulesof the world, Encore's lyrics are littered with clever rhyme quotables combined with a twist of Afro-centered Egyptology. ".084" is a refreshingly honest autobiographical headbanger that details how Encore's bout with the bottle helped him findAllah. Thankfully, producer Architect's drum patterns and cuts are perfectly tailored to suit Encore's flow. "Self Preservation" is the album's sole spoken-word number, featuring The Bishop: it's the icing on the cake, intellectually invigorating likeLouis Farrakhan.Self Preservationis perfect for hip-hoppers into thought-provoking, intelligent rhymes matched with equally impressive beats.--Dalton Higgins