Coolzey

Despite a large back catalogue, The Honey is still a great place to start your discovery of Dallas Center, Iowa MC Coolzey. Guest appearances by both nerdcore rapper/comedian Schaffer the Darklord and wild cowboy Sadat X might make for mixed expectations, but it just revels his childhood influences of Weird Al Yankovic and rugged East coast rap. Schaffer's verse on "The Honey" is funny and Copywrite is also welcome on the Men In Black-inspired "Retina Scan," but Sadat X steals the show on "Tour Song Too." Add in William Elliott Whitmore's rootsy blues hook and the hard piano sample of Coolzey's beat and it's the definite album highlight. Throughout the record, Coolzey's raps are mostly delivered in a simple old-school style that embraces funny wordplay and battle raps when not reminiscing on days gone by, although he also goes in for a couple of sing-song jams with funky first single "Look" and folksy album closer "Old Machine." But it's the minimal, chopped-up beats Coolzey creates with his MPC 1000 and the occasional grouping of musicians that make this release most worthwhile. The bass lines are thick, the drums banging and the sample choices bold, with tracks like the polka-sampling "Ride" and feedback-heavy instrumental "By the Time" readymade for an MF DOOM appearance. The Honey is a fun, experimental throwback to hip-hop's past.