Encore

Smooth-talking emcee Encore juggles thoughts and syllables with frank confidence and casual ease, dropping tasty insults on the forever nameless, hopelessly wack rap crews that seem to exist for the sole purpose of giving battle rappers a permanent target. On one track, Evidence (of Dilated Peoples) provides rich, swinging piano loops while Beat Junkie DJ Babu holds down the ones and twos Premier-style. Architect of the Homeliss Derelix contributes production skills as well, lacing sustained piano chords with eerily twisted string sounds on a decidedly darker piece. Skills-flexing lyricism over sample driven production is nothing new, but it's always enjoyable when smartly executed.