Release Date: Jan. 24, 2012
It’s hard to know what to expect from a group whose bio proclaims their sound as, “An aesthetic that resides at the corner of Crenshaw and Elm Street.” It’s hard to expect how messed up the listener’s head will be for weeks after first listen or how bizarre their dreams will be. “Celebrate with a bucket of grapes,” might be the line that best sums up the album’s chaos. Oddly enough, that line comes from legendary hip-hop figure Kool G Rap, who makes his own bizarre appearance. From the black-light-inspired cover art to the ode to an obscure, homemade alcohol in the title, Vodka & Ayahuasca is a psychedelic trip into the collaborative minds of two rap veterans.
On their third release as a duo, Alchemist (who has been around since the early days of Mobb Deep and Cypress Hill) and Oh No (an underground MC with his own vast heritage) might have worn out their welcome on the mic but still bring in excellent, grimy soundscapes that are rightly welcomed.
The aforementioned guest spot from Kook G Rap starts off the record on the track “Gladiator Music.” Other guest appearances include Roc Marciano on “Drink Up,” where Roc slyly navigates a beat that would fit well blaring in the ears of riders on Space Mountain if the ride were to go terribly awry, but it is Evidence on “Dark Shades” and Mobb Deep member Prodigy on “Dump Truck” who provide the album’s lyrical highlights.
Rather than focusing on where the album doesn’t quite measure up lyrically, it’s fair to focus on what’s going on musically, seeing as how these two made their names as producers for some of hip-hop’s grimiest moments. “Due Work” provides an aggressive 1970s-era piano sample that builds to a uneasy climax. “The Groove” is an ode to a party centered around an early-1990s Street Fighter tournament on Sega Genesis.
It’s not an achievement that’s going to move units or change the game, but Vodka & Ayahuasca provides a sinister soundtrack to what could be the highest-grossing “Saw” movie to date. Most producers want to be rappers deep down, and Al and Oh No aren’t terrible, but they definitely shine brighter when at their darkest behind the boards.
Gangrene – Vodka & Ayahuasca tracklist:
- “Intro (The Mixings)”
- “Gladiator Music” (featuring Kool G Rap)
- “Flame Throwers”
- “Drink It Up” (featuring Roc Marciano)
- “Auralac Bags”
- “Vodka & Ayahuasca”
- “Dump Truck” (featuring Prodigy)
- “Due Work”
- “Odds Cracked”
- “Top Instructors”
- “Dark Shades” (featuring Evidence & Roc C)
- “The Groove”
- “Livers for Sale”
- “Outro (The Downsides)”
