Posted on 12/15/2008
The word “prolific” must have been coined to help reviewers attempt to recap Moka Only's career. In 2008 alone, the Canadian unleashed Airport 2, Clap Trap and projects under the aliases Torch and Ron Contour. There's still a couple of weeks left in the year so expect that list to balloon. The former Swollen Member (that's not as dirty as it sounds) racked up three consecutive Juno Awards, which are essentially our northern neighbor's Grammys. So why Carrot & Eggs? Well with over thirty LP's on the shelves he was bound to make his way to eatables. The result is another album that plays as if Moka locked himself away in a room, waist deep in records and studio equipment.

The album's carrot and egg related narration is supplied by Buck 65 and PSY while Moka Only delivers the nutrients. That's exactly what he does; deliver. Subtracting the aforementioned voice-overs and appearances by Sadat X and Pharcyde's Bootie Brown, Moka handled the beats, rhymes, mixing and even received Illustration & Artwork co-credit. These type of feats put the “only” in Moka Only. His trademark casual, natural mic approach is more about vibe and feeling than detail. You could say that his style mimics the foods in question, worthwhile but never quite spectacular. Fans of Madlib should gravitate towards the producer incarnation of Moka Only. The instrumentals hit notes that are dusty, soulful, funky and all the other buzzwords at a beatmaker's disposal. It's the type of Hip Hop that forces you to put away the mean mug for sixty minutes, so you'll have to release the aggression elsewhere.

Most of the twenty-three joints are quick-hitting with an almost work-in-progress type of result. Songs of note include “Clapsnare” which mocks the overuse of a particular drum sample. The hook tells producers, “Please stop using the snare clap from Voodoo.” “Magazines” should satisfy print publications such as The Source and XXL to know somebody is actually buying their product. It also calls attention to the borderline freestyle quality lyrics peppered throughout the LP. To reiterate, Moka relies on reflex and instinct which may turn off fans of meticulous lyricists. The comprehensive liner notes for each track provides insight into the workaholic's thought process. Moka articulates the beat of “Eneff” as hairy, “Fer Sure's” Okanagan Valley vibe and “Put My Work In” as washed and airy. Examining songs in detail seems daunting when Moka's own words are readily available.

The packaging of Carrots & Eggs deserves special attention, between the thorough liner notes and usage of recycled materials. Who doesn't want a CD that's friendly to your ears and Mother Earth at the same time? The album highlights Moka Only's tendency to keep things natural in a mostly synthetic industry. His constant output is in stark contrast to delusional artists treating every album as if it's the one to go diamond. He makes it look easy and sometimes maybe it is a little too effortless, but luckily, being a fan of Moka Only is the gift that keeps on giving.

- Andrew Jones