We wouldn't even have been mad if this album would have been kinda weak. Usually, a hip hop artist only has one album per life time of the quality of "The Next Step" in 'em. How could we even hope for anything remotely as magnificent again? How many samples can they store in their record collection, how many feel good beats can they press outta their equipment, how many humorous tales can they put to paper? How many, before they eventually don't have any more? How many, before things get boring and repetitive? To tell you the truth: at least another 22 tracks, as many as this album has. It's the next step to "The Next Step". Not even necessarily more of the same, but eventually more of what was so dope the first time around.

You'll be hit over the head right from the bat, when the Doors like organ, that makes up the "Intro", comes one. Mocking themselves with 'I never saw that in Fat Beats' type statements, spoken over this organic luminance, the tongue in cheek proves, that they don't care. They show their different approach to hip hop, when on "Crazy Live", they let the drum loop run for a little longer than usual, before they start to rhyme. Things like that are what makes up the different appreciation, that an art.ist has for his work, things like extra rim shots or drum changes throughout the songs. And the PUTS use this track as an introduction to what they are about, and explaining a few things to the newcomers, who might have missed them the first time. And they proclaim 'we ain't got no message for you, we leave that to other dudes', before the album moves to the Latin Jazz opened "Youth Explosion". This is taking us back to the times when hip hop used to be fun, back when manic depressive dogs, didn't yet make music that was manicly depressing. Times, when a horn section carried the tune, the emcees weren't afraid to smile a little, when a simple cotton t-shirts was the thing to wear.

The cinematic "Suite For Creeper" is leading to "Sterns To Western", a sunset type track, that features Capn' Kidd Lexus. It also contains a sing along chorus, without it even having a hook. A guitar is providing the backbone for "Code Check", that features the straight flowing of Thes and K, that's a mixture between bragging, snapping, babbling and story telling. Still, on tracks like "Blowin Wax", you are hard tempted to take away the attention from the funky beat, and listen to the lyrical ode, that's unfolding like a manifesto. Still, you shouldn't mistake this as saying, them cats are putting gibberish to the record. Naw, man. It would just be a bad thing to repeat everything here, as a punchline is always the funniest the first time around. Another magical composition can be heard on the happy track "Give Love A Change", that features positive lyrics, that are well needed sunbeams in today's grim world. The summer vibe continues on "Stoned Youth Truth". If this doesn't get your mood up, you might need to raise the dose of your psychiatric drug. Speaking of drugs: the PUTS are not avid opposers of substances that can get you intoxicated, high, flowing on cloud seven and what not. That's why they ask you to 'drink up' at the beginning of "Yehaw Partystyles". This short interlude is made interesting with a deep organ. But the slowness of the track is left behind on "Get Drunk". A marvelous drum can be heard on "43 Labels I Like", a tale of crates digging and obscure lable mentioning, while another short interlude called "King Kurff" is coming up next. It's basically a straight break, with some talking and a little voice sample. However, that's very simplified, and in reality sounds much better.

While the beat on "E Business" again is nice, the first cat to rhyme on this cut, the featured artist JazMak, sounds a little forced and having to try too hard, as his voice and delivery lacks the carelessness and relaxation that K and Thes seem to do so effortless. More of that can be heard on "Zignaflyinbow", and after some talk about getting your drink on, you are now asked to 'smoke some weed' . Scratches leave up to the pot praising rhymes, before on "July 3rd", the PUTS formula of marching drums, an atmospheric layer and a guitar lick is done once more to our full enjoyment. "Stay Home" though is more serious, as a gripping voice sample opens the track, with the beat sounding like the tension of the calm before the storm. This exposes some of the thoughts and thinking of K and Thes about hip hop, while "Earth Travelers" is a homage to times passed.

The 12" track "The Cat" keeps up the darker mood, while "Electric Laddy" is such a short interlude, it's barely graspable. "We'll Be There" is giving us a dope JB's like horn, as well as another sound structure, that is taking you in, and taking away all arrogance. Last but not least, "Fredly Advice" moves through several samples and voice bits and pieces in a short time, almost doing something Double D & Steinski like. Still, the album is not over just yet, as there was something sneaked in, right at the end, after some minutes of silence, to give some props to those they think they deserve it.

And if you don't get it yet, and you don't understand their ante, check Thes One's linernotes, as he writes "I promise we'll keep making that '93 style hip hop with that '73 style funk 'till 2033". That's maybe a little simplified, as this would have probably been too futuristic in 1993. If you check the files, and see what did come out in '93 (Alkaholiks "21 & Over", Original Flavor "Beyond Flavor", Freestyle Fellowship "Innercity Griots", "Midnight Marauders", "No Need For Alarm", "Vagina Diner" and Funkdoobiest "Which Doobie U B?"), finding a place for this album to just blend in, would be quite impossible. As this is still a little too happy for that year too (in '93 "Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)", "Bacdafucup" and "Here Come The Lords", "Patriot Games" came out). And so, we probably shouldn't look back and call this renaissance hip hop, but just appreciate it as a 2G offering that blows away the competition.