We all cherish justice, peace, integrity, and strength of the mind, but ever since man has done good, there has been sin lurking in the shadows. We all try to strive to become a better person who can morally achieve their goals through legal and justified means. On the other hand though, ever since the Beatnuts dropped their first work, the Intoxicated Demons EP, they have filled our minds with evil and naughty endeavours to occupy our precious time with. Never once known for putting out a mediocre or lazy album the Beatnuts return to reclaim the crown and get our minds thinking about more important things like partying and drugs. Psycho Les and Juju bring down the house with 'Take It Or Squeeze It.' The third member Fashion, now known as Al Tariq, jumped ship years ago to pursue an ill fated solo position. He as a matter of fact makes a reunion with his former partners on a few tracks on this LP. This thirteen-song album not only had a great buzz going with the lead off single, 'No Escapin' This,' but was also bringing along high expectations from fellow fans. Did the album lead up to the hype, are there other such standout tracks as 'No Escapin' This' elsewhere on the album, have they elevated their game to another level, or did they just sit back and return fire with some half effort flop? All these questions and more will be answered in this concise critique of their latest full length.

Breaking out of the cipher on the first cut on the album, 'Its Da Nuts,' provides a strong opening which is also fortified with the help of the notorious Al Tariq. Keeping with the same method that has worked for oh so many previous years and albums, the Beatnuts themselves produced every song on the 13-song effort. Why bring in and pay outsider production when you have proven and innovative talent just sitting in front of you. Featuring fellow producer slash rhyme sayer slash mixtape king, Tony Touch exhibits he can rhyme just as well as he handles the 1200's on 'Prandelo.' But after the first two songs on the LP it goes downhill quickly. One of the mistakes that is very prevalent is the overusage of the guest appearances. Not only do they show that they are down with established artists from the past and present, they tend to overuse their army full of newcomers on tracks also.

Clearly a strain at a club track, trying to re-establish themselves back to the fame they received when 'Watch Out Now' from Musical Massacre was banging in every club, 'Yo Yo Yo' features old school legend Greg Nice rhyming for the majority of the track. Self-production on this track not only fits Nice's choppy and goofy style but it renders your senses overwhelmed with its immensely detailed layers of keyboard. I believe the number one problem with the entire effort is that the lyrics are not up to par with the detailed and multilayered production. 'If It Ain't Gangsta' is a horrid track overall, almost solely because of the pathetic lyrically show by Juju, Psycho, and random Sean Black Attack. Into it specifically Les rhymes, "I'm a beat you 'til your vision is blurred, tryna' rock me to sleep, you a nerd, we been doin' this for way too long, and I'm tellin' you I'm way too strong, homo." Pathetic and undeveloped lyrics like those belong in the trash can and not on an album from two of the best out there today.

Theres not much need to discuss or delve too far into 'No Escapin' This' because most likely you've heard the song over the radio or seen the video on tv already a few times. Its the straight out best track on the album, hands down. The entirety of the album after track 7 is littered with up and coming MC's that are trying their best, but in the end failing at impressing the always harsh and judgmental hip hop crowd of critics. The only light of day lyrically after the midpoint is the last track, 'Se Acabo REMIX' featuring Method Man. You should remember the original version from their previous LP. Method Man not only provides a potency that you could only expect from a Wu banger, but is also a synergistic match with the two men. Spitting out his heart and soul Juju, "hit the street with incredible beats, we renowned for tearing it down, never have you heard a similar sound, like a drop off, when s*$% pop off, feel a hot one, side scorching from a hot gun."

Despite the stagnant lyrics that infest over half the album, the production on the album is almost surely above average. Beatnuts need to leave the studio and computers behind for more time and sit down and write more thought out lyrics to match the superb beats. Their unmatched efficiency at beatmaking could net them hundreds of thousands of dollars in production credit, but respect in the lyrical field should be sought before they seek material gain.