Primo the Cinematic

Primo the Cinematic has set a lofty goal for himself with his debut double LP, Contemporary Classic, and you can't help but admire him for his courage. After completing active military service, Primo decided to let it all hang out on the whopping 31 tracks that comprise this album — plenty of room for an artist to showcase himself but also plenty of room for a critic to slice and dice. For the most part, the album is well produced and Primo well versed. While not hard hitting, the sound of the record has a more enveloping feel and floats along at a very comfortable pace, broken up nicely by plenty of cutting and sampling. If there is one hang up it is that on occasion, Primo can get caught up in his extensive vocabulary, coming across like an athlete that makes one too many moves in trying to put one past the keeper. Primo's goal was to pay tribute to rap's golden era — the soundtrack of his youth — while at the same time, trying to get noticed. Keeping this in mind, Contemporary Classic achieves the objective. With his mission accomplished, it's highly doubtful that Primo the Cinematic will dust off his hands and close up shop — more seems to be in store.