Fly
label: just be

producers: dj static, tonedeff, b-ski rocks, juggla, beyond@t

guests: vast aire, poison pen.
year of release: 2003
If the names Stronghold and MTV in connection with Breez Evahflowin don't hold any sense for you, man, then you really need to get your knowledge up to date. Or be like: screw it, and listen to this EP anyway. As in any case, this EP can be something you'll enjoy, as it got the qualities in place, does whatever it attempts well. And so it doesn't even matter if you know what Breez has already accomplished, who he runs with and what's his favorite, food, car and weekday. Nope, that we'll discover in the Hip Hop Hunks interview. Which is a dope site, by the way. But before this opening paragraph gets any more detoured, let's listen to what Breez does on those ten songs.
And he starts out with "Self Pro-Claimed", a slow rolling ditty produced by DJ Static, who takes us back a couple of years in style and signature. Breez on the other hand seems to just talk, before you eventually realize that this is actually a battle concept too: Breez is bigging himself up, puts others down, and that so intelligently, you will not even realize before everyone else is laughing about you. A little more out front is "That Heat", where the braggadocios is front line and not between the lines. The beat is getting your head in an up and down movement like a yo-yo too, while the singing by Duv make this kinda extra charming.

tracklisting
1. Self Pro-Claimed
2. That Heat
3. Give It Away
4. Billy Goats Gruff feat. Poison Pen, Vast Aire
5. Fly
6. Loving Her
7. Why
8. Beyond@t Interlude
9. Balance The Sac
10. Get It Out
Not necessarily cross over potentially though, as that comes on "Give It Away", produced by Tonedeff and the pseudo opera singing is quite catchy, with the adlibs however being even more catchy. The issue at hand then gets more serious, as Breez offers his reflections and insights, showing the depth to him, keeping all the silliness away and to "Billy Goats Gruff". With some of the humor coming from Poison Pen and Vast Aire, while the joke will again be on you, rather than on anyone else. And the lines rest heavy on you, as if Vast was sitting in your lap, while the choppy B-Ski Rocks beat adds fuel to fire.
While crossover means doing what you do and it crosses over whatever line, "Fly" seems to have been coined if not to the right, then at least right smack on the thin line between this here and that there. The beat is just a little bubble gum, with the poetic rhyming of Breez also leaving all the harshness behind in style. Not in topic though, that is as much positive as criticizing, thus it's kinda tough love. With only love being spoken on "Loving Her", a magnificently beautiful track produced by DJ Static, where Breez speaks about his daughter. And in this time where so many people don't identify and feel for their children, hearing this outburst of true love, feeling, appreciation and bliss, is quite a tear jerker in a wholesome good way.
There's more beauty on the excellent production by Beyond@t on "Beyond@t Interlude", which is a shout out cut, and "Balance The Sac", that gives us Breez spitting over a soulful beat. Finally there's the left out pondering "Why" and the last cut on here "Get It On", that has Breez do some grinning and nasty rhyming. Rounding out this EP that's just good and it's good at being whatever it does. The beat are well produced as well as hitting your head, neck and nervous foot. While the rhymes are equally well written, may they be something more serious, personal or just darn cocky. Ish is good.
review: tadah
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