Self Scientific

This album’s timeline tells a story about the importance of distribution deals. Originally released in 2005, it caught a couple random reviews, but nowhere near the attention it should have, because — based on the music itself — this is one of the best rap albums of 05 and 06. Brought now to us Canucks by Fontana North, the combination of DJ Khalil’s hot-buttered production and Chace Infinite’s intellectual mic thuggery produces an album you can listen to all the way through or simply rock the singles on repeat. Chace has an PHD in streets smarts, made obvious when he pleads for social change without resorting to cliché on "Change,” or when he wrestles with the existential conundrum on "Free Will.” Khalil, for his part, is solid throughout, but strongest on the up-tempo bangers like the string-heavy "Live N Breathe” and the album’s knock-out punch, the double-time "funksplosion” of "What You Need,” which Jellyroll blesses with an old-time chorus. If their new distro deal has gotten this into your local store, cop this ninja.