By Ahmad Awadallah

There are two words to describe Vast Aire’s latest album OX 2010: A Street Odyssey: balanced diversity. Vast appointed a host of different producers and features for the album that gives the listener a taste of different styles while maintaining that gritty flavor. That said, some features and beats weren’t quite up to par with the rap vet’s exceptional skills.

The album is refreshing with its montage of sounds. Producer Kount Fif comes correct on “Man of Steel.” Its strong drum beat, triumphant trumpets and Vast’s grimy flow and lyrics put it in the running for best song on the album, with all of those elements blending well. VA was never known for his crazy wordplay, but he has built an insurmountable reputation with his mucky bars. On the track “Nomad” he reminds the listener he hasn’t turned soft when he spits, “Nobody should be left alive/on the count of five/they all gotta die.”

Underground rapper Karniege delivered the hardest guest feature with his relentless flow on the Fif-produced track, “Almighty Jose.” The beat was torn apart by both emcees and a tough hook. “Time to light the mic up/if your if was a fifth/we’d be all fucked/if your if was gun/we’ll all be shot/if you got Kount Fif/that beat is hot,” VA vehemently raps over a light piano-riddled instrumental.

Harry Fraud is one of the best producers in Hip-Hop right now, but he didn’t deliver on his contributions “2090” and “Phenom.” On the latter, VA’s lackluster flow and Fraud’s new-age synths are blasé, and both elements don’t seem to interlock. The track “Merry Go Round” comes off extremely sloppy with the New Yorker referencing the Addams Family over a confused beat. The Surock production featured elements of eeriness and an attempt at a nasty East Coast sound that never coalesced.

Raekwon drops by on “Thor’s Hammer.” The P.O.V crafted instrumental was tailored perfectly for both emcees. The diesel percussion notes and the suave synths give a beautiful blend of rugged and smooth. Vordul Mega is also featured on the track, but fails to deliver the goods, with a flow that was too rushed for the tranquil beat.

One of the better songs on the album is the inventive, Brother Hood 603-produced “Battle of the Planets” with features Vast Aire references action-star Steven Segal and host of his movies in his rhyme. Vast spits, “I bet you I’m faster/now you’re marked for death like white-boy Hatcher/with a fire down below/you think you raw/this ain’t under siege/and you ain’t above the law.”

The album is refreshing and definitely worth a listen or two, but it’s definitely not going to win any awards anytime soon. There are so many different sounds to this album and all the guest features bring their own flair. Whether they’re good or bad it is your call.
Out of 5

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