Old English is a hip hop duo from San Diego, California who have been doing their thing for over a decade. Their rhymes are smart and angry, their beats are untouchable and if you ever get to meet them you’ll find that they’re also some funny cats. Anyway, the pair have a new album out called Band In Amerikkka and the album is sick. They do it all old school style; heavy beats rocked with obscure samples that’ll leave you lost and dazed in a vinyl catacomb. The vocals mean nothing but business and their lyrics that are pointed and passionate. This is rap with punk rock passion and fire. Musically, it’s along the same bloodline as Mobb Deep, Public Enemy, and Nas. A lot of the subject matter is directed at political figures and half steppers. George Bush and Fox news get a fiery spear through the gut, they utilize a Jello Biafra sample to mock the national anthem and MCs Savior Self (Steve Martinez) and Nothin Less (Nelson Bautista) rhyme like their minds would implode if they didn’t have this release. I am NOT kidding here, the blood is boiling over on this one.

The beats are dramatic and as dark as anything to come out of Queensbridge in the 90′s. Everything is visceral. The strange thing about this album is, love the lyrics as I do, I never seem to remember them (I’m more musical than verbal, for whatever it’s worth). But the overall impact of the music and the impassioned delivery leave me feeling amped and exhausted. Sort of the same feeling as the post mosh pit high. Anyone into heavy beats culled from deep cuts will appreciate this album. The producers on Band In Amerikkka are 21 Gramz, DJ V-Rock, Infinity Gauntlet, DJ Cmerock, and Meaty-Ogre (the only one not from San Diego, though his beat samples an old San Diego jazz song). If you haven’t heard of these guys, you’ll want to after hearing these tunes. Every track elevates from the clean (and at the same time grimy) production sound. Front to back this album burns. Trust, brah. Give it a spin here at the Old English bandcamp page.

If you only plan to give a few tunes a listen, I recommend the title track, “Band In Amerikkka,” “The Omen,” featuring Gonjasufi and “Sincerely Yours.”There’s also a limited 180 gram vinyl pressing that may still be available. And if is, you already know, cop that!