Soul Assassins - Intermission [Album]

Gold Dust Media

When I saw this for review I have to admit I was genuinely excited at seeing the crew that brought us Cypress Hill, Funkdoobiest, and a whole host of classic remixes, stepping up with a new album featuring a who’s who of underground hip hop. The cover artwork is sick and once I looked at the tracklist I thought how lucky am I?! How I was wrong…

DJ Muggs always had a knack for a beat that had genuine funk and gave you that "nod ya head" feeling. “Intermission” just doesn’t do that anywhere near enough to make it stay in the car CD player for more than a couple of plays and as I listen to it again as I write this review I’m not convinced any further that Muggs will manage to capture any new fans (or retain older ones for that matter) with this release. With a guest list that includes RZA, Necro, Evidence, Alchemist, Planet Asia, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, B-Real, La Coka Nostra and many more, I’m again thinking that this can’t really be a bad album can it? These are (in my opinion) some of the best MCs and producers out there but they just aren’t on form consistently.

The ‘Champions (Remix)’ featuring Prodigy & Big Twins epitomises the lyrical content with the line “Fuck hip hop, this is hardcore rap.” Nine of the fourteen tracks on this promo version are snippets so you don’t even get to hear B-Real of Cypress Hill fame show if he’s still got it on the title track ‘Intermission’ featuring Rza, Rev.William Burke and Planet Asia.

‘World We’re In’ is one of the few stand out tracks featuring Cynic on vocals over a beat relying heavily on that speeded up hook in the style Kanye was renowned for in his earlier years. Cynic sounds a lot like Pace-Won which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but when this is one of the best tracks on the album you know its been a struggle.

Evidence doesn’t cut it on ‘Classical’ and the Dilated Peoples MC will no doubt look back at this and admit he could have flowed better. ‘Matchbox’ is most likely the best beat off the album and potentially the best track with female artist Dust sounding all Portishead over a beat Premo would have been proud of complete with dirty piano sample.

All in all, DJs might want to wait for the singles to check the remixes and see if any other guest MCs rear their heads. The bedroom listeners out there can make their own minds up.

I’ve made up mine.