Hurry Up and Wait

Two years after his first single, this Philadelphia MC says it all with the album title. But Hezekiah has been listening while waiting, and he knows all the current tricks for indie hip-hop respect. For starters, consciousness is terrific, but that doesn't mean you can't have a song like "Photograph" which asks that you "Put 'em on the glass, so I can take a photograph." Second, he knows that beats should find that perfect middle ground between Timbaland stutter step and the organic funk of the quickly defunct neo-soul movement. You'll find that on the Illmind produced "It Couldn't Be Done" as well as Hezekiah's own "Soul Music," while M-Phazes lays down a more straight forward boom-bap beat on "Put Your Toys Away." Anthony Accurate also runs the boards on the Bahamadia led "Gypse Slang," and Hezekiah shares microphone time with Santi White, Aaron Livingston and fellow Soulspazm resident Grand Agent. This isn't the most inventive hip-hop record you'll cop this year. But it meets all the criteria for discerning heads. And that's a recommendation better than most.