Evidence

The Weatherman LP

[3/5] Rapper/producer Evidence is no stranger to the game. His group, Dilated Peoples, have been an underground force since the mid-’90s. Besides gaining success for themselves, they’ve also managed to nurture the careers of several members of their extended crew, such as Defari and the Alchemist (the latter co-produced The Weatherman LP). It’s a crew-like vibe similar to the Wu-Tang Clan, but a lot less insane. Now, it’s Evidence’s turn to steal the spotlight. Musically, his solo debut doesn’t stray too far from the Peoples’ sound-in fact, it’s basically identical. But lyrically, there’s a lot more depth. It’s not emo (though Slug of Atmosphere does drop by), it’s much more mature. The biggest example is “I Still Love You,” a touching tribute to his mother whose recent death inspires several of the album’s more personal moments. Sure, at times the record can be sorta mediocre, but the amount of growth it reveals makes it really hard not to like. (ABB) Eddie Fleisher