Ill Boogie needs to be congratulated for the 'Ear Plug Series'. Not just because it gives a bundle of artists more of the attention they very much deserve, but also because it gives the listener a quartet of dope EPs, which is a format we are very much for anyways. Now the third installment (with the first two being by Yesh, Demigodz and fourth by Mars ILL coming June 11th) gives us the Orange County natives Emanon, which is 'no name' backwards, in case you don't know. And everyone who's had the pleasure to see Exile and Aloe Blacc perform together, knows that Aloe is one of the best emcees when it comes to a one man show. That's quite likely due to this guy first of all being smart and second of all really loving the music and the art. Hence he could never forgive himself to come weak, and that's why he doesn't.

What he however does is giving you a truckload of serious issues. Hence he touches upon inspirational, deep and reflective topics, like the searching for a reason "What You Live For", the fleeing from the evil he himself did on "The Price - Pt. 2", to demanding "when you know the nature of the beast, act accordingly" on "Nature Of The Beast", where Aloe is raising his fist and taking the stance of a street politician. At the same time however, Aloe also knows that you can't throw serious issues at the audience all the time, hence he switches things up and does a while positive, very much tongue in cheek "Blind Love", where female relations are explored. And he does "Detour" with Dr. Oop where they rhyme in a back and forth matter, cracking jokes all the way.

The beats are accordingly matched, with one of the most outstanding offerings being "What You Live For", for the wrong reasons however, as this Aloe beat is rather weak. Much better offerings are cooked up by Exile who's doing something incredible on "The Price - Pt. 2", which's intensity you can't easily shrug off. Exile is hooking up one determined and ill beat, matching it with perfectly placed scratched voice drops, resulting in the concept being amazingly executed. DJ Cheapshot is offering a very sunny and guitary beat to "Blind Love", making this a summer favorite, while "Runaway" sounds content, but not blatantly good mooded.

The last cut then however needs to attract your attention also, because "A Day In Exile" is not your regular DJ tune. Even though Exile and DJ Day do a lot of turntable trickery, what they also do is, they scat along to their scratches. And that must be something no one else has done before them, hence should not only draw a hyped reaction from a live crowd when they see it, but should also let the home audience exhale a couple of 'oh yeah's. But not just this track is undisputedly nice, the whole EP gives you enough flavor to satisfy you taste addicts, as well as it brings you thoughts for you head on people. Hence it's a well rounded offering, only stabilizing the already rock solid reputation of being dope, that Emanon enjoys and deserves.