Posted on 09/08/2009
Trek Life’s 2006 LP, Price I’ve Paid was a strong, diverse piece of work. Trek Life’s ability to hash out varying topics easily, along with surprisingly limber lyrics, made the album one of that year’s better releases. The album's talented production lineup featured Evidence, DJ Khalil, and DJ Babu among others. The LP, now the aptly titled New Money, gets a reworking via the capable production of Oddisee, elevating the already solid album to lofty heights.

The intro features Oddisee recanting him and Trek's initial meetings and connection, thus setting the table for "Black Music," which finds Trek spitting confident rhymes over Oddisee's smooth production. The pace moves up to a welcome pace with "Hard Work," which features Oddisee displaying his beat digging prowess by letting the sample source play before each song (and this trend continues throughout the LP). ”Hard Work” is an all out lyrical assault with some amazing turntablism from DJ Babu. "Hold Me Down" features Champ MC with Oddisee, who provides a chanted chorus. The most interesting aspect to the track is Oddisee's infectious hook; the song isn't terrible but the song is a let down after the wizardry of the preceding track. "Big Picture" gets the LP back on the right path. Oddisee's backing track is full of intense emotion, and Trek Life matches it with descriptive and nearly somber lyrics. "Long Time Coming" is another early highlight with Oddisee's track providing the perfect canvas for Trek Life to share his autobiographical tale.

"Enjoy Yourself" comes off as a poor attempt at the ever elusive club banger. Oddisee's track is well produced yet sounds more suited for another style of artist. Trek Life sounds completely out of his element with this one. This is one of the few snags present on the release. Amongst the LP's last 3 tracks, all bonuses, the best of the group is "All Times." Oddisee's track hits like a kick in the chest and Trek Life bolsters the track with his excellent verses. The remix album is usually a tricky feat to accomplish, especially when it seems unnecessary. In this case, Oddisee's contribution not only enhanced the previous release, it may have eclipsed it.

-D.L. Chandler