producers: shorty raw, mck2, 8:35, the trackwalkers

"if you're not used to hip-hop mixed with jazz... then this might not be the album for you if you're not used to that positivity in rap... then i'm sorry, this might not be the album for you but if you're used to that ignorance then yes it's true... this definitely is not the album for you"

for an intro to a record review, that's a pretty nice quote; as the intro to an album like "the art of reflective evolution" it's a pretty much perfect indication of what's to come. over a smokey jazz piano loop and suitably dusty drums, mck2 & shorty raw calmly lead you into 'the art of reflective evolution' - their 14 track debut long player - a laidback gem of an album that has evidently caught many heads sleeping... [debut as a duo, mck2 & shorty's 'other' debut was the infinite cycle album "euphoria"].

"most of us have a special place we like to visit because we actually feel good being there. what we hear in that place has a lot do with it" [intro sample to "what about the music?"]

from where??

hailing from G (rather than mad skillz's V) A, mck2 and shorty raw are sure to have slipped the ears of many purely due to their geographical location. it's fair to say that, were it not for the chance i am afforded through urbansmarts.com, they might have passed me by too - which is one of the key reasons why i love doing the review work i do. for all the much hyped independent explosion of recent years, there are a great number of outstanding artists who continue to evade my ears (through little fault of their own) every single year. the internet (regardless of whatever flaws you may argue it has) is one of the main reasons why that number is currently on the decline. it's fair to say that the climate has never been better equipped to deal with independent hip-hop than it is now - the globalisation of local talent has meant that more and more albums like 'the art of reflective evolution' are being brought to heads worldwide. of course, whether there are that many other albums quite like 'the art...', is another matter entirely...

with solid, smooth deliveries and well thought out lyrics, mck2 & shorty raw exhibit the kind of interplay exhibited by the best 2 man crews over the last decade or so. the way they compliment each other, both in their styles and flows, makes for great listening, and the guest spots are not only timely, but also add, to, rather than detract from their own rhymes.

beatwise, the duo are, as the intro would suggest, on a jazz tinged tip, with smooth piano loops and the like providing the perfect backdrop for their distinctive brand of laidback thoughtful lyricism. if you're looking for something to pump in a club - this may not be for you - but if you're looking for something that'll have your walkman rotation locked down for a while, your answer could come in the form of this album. i don't want to try and make comparisons with other artists as they often fall far wide of the mark and leave everyone - bar the reviewer - completely oblivious to what they actually mean by them. all i will say is that 'the art of reflective evolution' is something that wouldn't sound at all out of place alongside your favourite fondle 'em releases, and is easily as good as

the standout cuts for me are "what about the music?" and the excellent pacific time zone mix of "natural tendency" (featuring 8:35). the way lyrics like "musical assault and battery with a twinge of mad emcee/my positive activity is not a marketing strategy" calmly glide over the warm bass pulse of the latter makes for an understated gem of a track. you might need to linger by the rewind button to make sure the chilled out beat doesn't catch you snoozing on the wordplay...

all in all, i have a lot of time for this album. it has all the necessary ingredients to get it heavy rotation around the waxfactory - from well constructed beats, to intelligent, positive lyricism [and including smooth, tight cuts from dj style (of the nha, NC) and lord lamont - which, as anyone who knows me would tell you, is a nigh on essential ingredient in any hip-hop album for me.] whilst you may have slept on mck2 & shorty raw before due to lack of knowledge about them, consider that problem a thing of the past... sleep on 'the art of reflective evolution' now and you've only yourselves to blame...