The Hydroponic Sound System is back and meaner than ever for the '08. Sick midtempo funk and downtempo get wrecked as the Texas duo of Skin and Rube mash out some of their illest grooves. Check the first track, "Bang!(1)," featuring the lyrical stylings of the legendary Sadat X. Yup, the one and only, accompanied by emcee Blaze Won. Truly taking it back to that late 90s indie hip hop feel with this one. The instrumental's included for that one too. "American Pickpocket(2)" enlists the help of badass slap bass samples, along with classic hip hop lines chopped over funky guitar licks. Nicely done. Flip it for the B-side banger "The Deafening Screams Of Silence(3)." The funk on this is smooth with ill beats, perfect for blasting in your stereo over a sunny summer daze. Also check the jazzy hip hop track "This Just In(4)" with Chucky Sly and Bavu Blakes and the early 90s downtempo feel on "Windows(5)." Whereas others may be busy with party edits and dancefloor remixes, Hydro keeps it all original all the time. Holdin' it down for the TX!

reviewed by C'mish