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This is the third album from Boston duo 7L & Esoteric, whose long collaboration of 12 years continues to spawn some mighty fine hip hop cuts. Bars Of Death may not sound like the most gentle title, but then these are no way gentle rappers!
Unmistakably East Coast in sound, they have elements of Jay-Z and the Wu Tang in their style but are sufficiently individual and cutting edge to stand on their own.
An intro of shimmering string figures leads straight into Ring Music, a statement of intent and the only heavily guitared track on the album. From then on the musical textures tend to be string based - not warm, luscious chords but tight, tense treble lines, complementing the rapping style of the main protagonists and their many guests.
Some of the lyrical content is right on the button. Esoteric's rapping on Loud & Clear for instance - "Esoteric, that's what they call him, schizophrenic like Smeagol & Gollum". Or Grace Of Gods, where Rise boasts, "I've got hotties on the back burner," over a baroque style riff - and you can guess what sort of early night he has in mind! Battlefields' touches of soul are quickly dispelled by the lyric "rappin' like a shooter when you know you don't pack a gun".
Most affecting of all is Touchy Subject, going straight for the racial jugular. In the words of Uno The Prophet, "These touchy subjects I specialize," and he then goes on to state that "hip hop to me is like black people property". An obsession with violence spills over towards the end - Deathgrip, Way Of The Gun for example - but the outstanding Another Way Out shifts the goalposts with its "we don't slip, we don't trip" line. Rise Of The Rebel meanwhile is the duo's finest moment here, a slow and majestic piano loop providing the backing for Esoteric's strong lyrics.
A really strong album then, in both senses of the word and certainly not one for the faint-hearted. It's a tough, gritty listen with plenty to muse on, a dash of humour and some expertly chosen samples. Just don't expect a smooth ride...
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