Posted on 10/07/2008
In the discussion of great Hip-Hop duos, Duck Down's Heltah Skeltah are often times overlooked, an odd occurrence seeing as how their crew, Boot Camp Clik, helped usher in the so-called East Coast Renaissance of the early '90s, not to mention their debut, Nocturnal, being highly regarded and containing one of the greatest posse cuts ever with "Lefleur Leflah Eshkoshka." Nevertheless, Sean Price has resurrected his "Ruck" alias and reunited with Rockness Monsta to showcase why they are indeed, Da Incredible Rap Team. In fact, on D.I.R.T, they literally attempt to hammer this sentiment into the heads of all who dare listen with steroid-induced, heart pounding production many degrees higher than "boom-bap" and the most brazen, outlandish brand of harsh lyrical machismo they've ever put on wax.

Sean Price gets the ball of verbal discord rolling on the lead single, "Everything is Heltah Skeltah," confidently spewing venomous phrases most MCs wouldn't let even Freudian slip. "My flow is so spectacular that Marshall Mathers be wishing I go back to Africa." The carnage spills over into "The Art of Disrespekinazation," where he continues the onslaught with crass lines like, "Lip gloss stains on my dick from Lil' Mama" and "when I fucked Rihanna, ain't wear no umbrella/if the bitch have twins we're naming 'em both Ella...Ella...Ay." They always find a way to explain that the insults mean nothing but it doesn't take the sting off the face smack. One of the best and probably most anticipated moments comes when Rock & Ruck trade verses with Tek & Steele, otherwise known as Smif N Wessun, the other respected yet underrated duo from Boot Camp on "W.M.D."

Since D.I.R.T is basically a true-to-form battle record, the duo should've been laced with the most attention-grabbing beats possible and though their case is not nearly as bad as say a Chino XL or Canibus, there are instances where the production doesn't come through for them. "That's Incredible," though not a bad song is a tad bit too slow, especially in Ruck's case who seems to struggle to stay on track with the lush synths. Evidence of Dilated Peoples offers the worst beat on the disc coupled with a pathetic vocal simulation of bursting flames to make "Hellz Kitchen" an epic fail. "Da Beginning of Da End," "Insane" and "Shmack Muzik" are more suitable soundbeds, the latter being a break-neck canvas of fast drums, hard bass and calculated strings, despite an undercooked chorus from affiliate Flood.

It's been a full decade since Heltah Skeltah released a full-length together. Fortunately for them, D.I.R.T doesn't repeat the mistakes of their ill-fated sophomore LP, Magnum Force and regardless of the long separation, Ruck & Rock's chemistry has only increased with time. All they need now is the expertise of renowned beatmakers like Premo or Pete Rock who have just as much skill behind the boards as they do behind the mic to truly be an incredible rap team.

- Kendred Spirit