Prince Po - 'The Slickness' (Lex) Released 05/07/04

Prince Po’s new album is a unique challenge.  Many MCs have found leaving the comfort of their well-known group a career ending move, like when Pras left the Fugees or Q-tip broke from a Tribe Called Quest.  Others can’t re-establish success after a lengthy rest from the game.  Prince Po takes on both hurdles with ‘The Slickness’, a quality album boasting sharp lyrics and an array of proven producers and guests.

Executive producer Danger Mouse has arranged a respectable line-up of tracks.  Many know him for his “Grey Album,” where he combined the lyrics of Jay-Z’s ‘Black Album’ with instrumentals from the Beatles ‘White Album.’

Organized Konfusion, the New York duo of Pharaohe Monch and Prince Poetry (Po's former name), released three albums between 1991 and 1997. Their self-titled debut in '91 is considered by many as one of the fifty best rap albums of all time.  Pharaohe Monch’s solo efforts have been well received, but he started while Organized Konfusion was still hot.  Prince Po has been gone, but'The Slickness' has the strength to bring him back to our attention.

The first single, ‘Hold Dat’, is perfect for da club. Producer Richard X dropped an extremely funky beat for Prince Po’s first single, and the song is rapper Jemini’s best contribution, who also appears on ‘Fall Back.’  ‘Too Much’ is a testament to his rhyming skills. “Hip-hop sasquatch, rob blocks and watch cops / like a copper watch crack spots and chop shops.”  Prince Po isn’t afraid to make rap fun again, like the old school days, with ‘Meet Me at Tha Bar’.  It’s always nice to hear something new that’s void of bitches and bling.  Like many undergrounders, he is discouraged by new trends. 'I used to be a radio head /  now radio’s dead'.

The South Queens rapper craftily combines underground thought with mainstream simplicity.  While some rhymes are a bit stupid, like “I’m still hungry / the hood Crocodile Dundee,” the majority of the lyrics are refreshingly old.  Prince Po doesn’t try and broke what’s fixed; his style reflects the greats of the 80’s and early 90’s.  He’s made an above average record that indicates future work will find great acceptance.  Don’t forget, it’s always real cold for the balls when you get right back in the water.