By c Fraz
Albert Einstein is Prodigy’s second collaboration (2007′s Return of the Mac) with long-time collaborator Alchemist. Prodigy followers will be happy to know that he still can spit that rough and rugged realism that people have come to love from his earlier music. P really sounds comfortable when on an Alchemist beat and it shows throughout the album. Alchemist continues to evolve as a producer and on Albert Einstein, he finds his niche behind the boards. Alchemist remains consistent with an innate ability to create music tailor made for Prodigy, who carries the majority of the lyrical workload on the album. Roc Marciano, Domo Genesis, Raekwon, Havoc and Action Bronson make notable contributions on the project.
Stay Dope is one of the tracks where Prodigy rides dolo using one of his vintage hooks, “Getting doper by the day, get the fuck up out the way when you see a real nigga like me (stay fly). While you stuck on that craze I be on another page, I’ll be on another wave (motherfuckers, they blind) But I’mma stay dope.”
On Death Sentence, Prodigy makes references to him being the devil’s worst nightmare and uses metaphors like the priceless lexicon, Black Mafiosi and rogue vigilante to describe himself and what he calls a timeless flow. Roc Marciano kills his verse:
I’m from Terrace my sellers twist vanillas switch bellas. The chain thick as Precious, Miss Texas with the Lexus, disgruntled exes squeeze techs, ambidextrous. The team repped it, clean the skeptic, peep the sketches. Keys to heavens open the gates, choke the snake at a slow pace and drain the venom. My waves is spinnin’, clean paper in my favorite denim, my little friend came in from Finland, I’m a gremlin.
Prodigy flirts with the piano melody on YNT as guest Domo Genesis steals the show. Curb Ya Dog, is equipped with flute riffs and barking dog sound effects that seem a bit experimental. IMDKV is filled with street slang and there is some brutal story-telling on Confessions, which along with, Breeze has interesting jazzy sounds and samples that complement Prodigy’s bravado. R.I.P. featuring Havoc and Raekwon, mirrors Havoc’s own Favorite Rap Stars, while Action Bronson feature, The One finds the two feeding off cracking guitar licks. Alchemist spits with a crackling voice on the electronic-infused cut Bible Paper.
The album never reaches, that toe-tapping,head bobbing, jaw-dropping level. Prodigy remains one of the artists known to thug out on tracks. Alchemist pushes the envelope musically, but the album never manifests past average. Moreover, Prodigy’s chemistry with Alchemist hasn’t quite matched that of his former duo and the album is repetitive in lyrical content– rap supremacy and parading rhymes of cash.
2.75 Out of 5
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