After dropping 2 great albums, I can honestly say I didn't expect the Cunninlynguists to step their game up like this for their 3rd offering. 'A Piece Of Strange' is their first full length album since 2003's 'Southernunderground', which was followed by two volumes of 'Sloppy Seconds', both worthwhile offerings with some great standout tracks (including one of 2005's best tracks, 'Fear', off of Vol.2).
On this album, Kno tried to perfect his production, and as a result he almost gave up rapping alltogether. He only drops one verse the entire album (on the track 'Brain Cell), and it sort of makes you wish he would have taken the time to drop a couple more verses. But then you realize how much Kno has upped his production game for this release. 'Remember Me (Abstract Vs. Reality)' is probably the best example of this. As the only full legnth instrumental track on the album, Kno provides the listener with a beautiful piece of music, and as an INSTRUMENTAL this is one of the best songs on the album. That might be a first for me, when it comes to hip hop albums, as instrumental tracks are usually filler, or nowhere near the level of this song. On 'A Piece Of Strange', the beats are incredible. You can really tell Kno took his time perfecting this album.
The album is DEFINATELY on point lyrically. While I don't think Deacon & Natti are, or will ever be ELITE lyricists in the game, they're more than exceptional, especially when it comes to southern rap. Tracks like 'Hourglass', 'Caved In', 'Nothing To Give', 'Since When' & 'America Loves Gangsters' showcase their lyrical abilities the best, and are also some of the best overall songs on the album.
Ultimately, this is just an extremely dope album, and one of the best southern rap releases in YEARS. The lyrics, the production, the feel...Everything here was executed perfectly, and I would say this might just be the Cunninlynuists' best album so far (although 'Will Rap For Food' & 'Southernunderground' were both great, too), and they're quickly making their way into Hip Hop's elite groups.
Top 5 Songs (In Order):
1. The Gates (Featuring Tonedeff) - Just a GREAT song. Incredible piece of music with Tonedeff dropping one of his best songs.
2. Hourglass - Love the production here...Deacon & Natti also drop some great verses.
3. Hellfire - Great high energy song, and actually the only one on the CD.
4. Caved In (Featuring Cee-Lo) - The amazing Cee Lo provides the hook to an overall dope track.
5. Nothing To Give - One of the best beats and one of the best tracks lyrically.
Worst Track:
None. There isn't a song on this album I can classify as 'the worst'. All of them are great, and worth listening to.
Lyrics/Substance/Subject Matter - 9/10
Flow/Delivery - 9/10
Production - 10/10
Overall Feel - 9.5/10
Guest Apperances - Cee-Lo, Tim Means, Immortal Technique, Tonedeff & Club Dub - 9/10 - Tonedeff, on basically a solo song, produces one of the best lyrical performances of the album, and Cee Lo & Immortal Tech. really help this album succeed.
Overall Rating - 9/10 - The (very) early frontrunner for album of the year of 06, and HIGHLY reccomended to any hip hop fan.