El-P

Cancer 4 Cure

This review originally ran in AP 287.

Like clockwork, El-P delivers new material every five years. From Company Flow’s Funcrusher Plus, to his solo debut, Fantastic Damage, and again with I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead, the Brooklyn rapper/producer has been reliable since 1997, setting a ridiculously high bar for himself. Cancer 4 Cure is full of all the swagger and attitude we expect from El-P. The production is grimy in a good way—minimal, yet complex all at the same time. “The Full Retard” is mega-catchy, a guaranteed sing-along, that’s balanced out by raw cuts such as “Oh Hail No” and “True Story.” Compared to his previous efforts, Cure would be the weakest link. But even if it’s probably not a classic, it’s still pretty damn solid.

Fat Possum http://www.fatpossum.com

“The Full Retard”