No matter the circumstances, it’s always a win for New Crack Era on the east and west. Eto has a new 16 track LP called “The Beauty Of It,” for his loyal supporters. For this release there’s production from some of the most respected producers, including The Alchemist, Large Professor, VDon, Marco Polo, Statik Selektah and Daringer, to name a few. To keep things fresh, Eto stepped out of the norm on a few tracks, bringing something new to the table. The guest emcees are diverse, featuring his daughter, Imanii Skyy, Flee Lord, Grafh, Nyticka Hemingway, Willie The Kid, Rome Streetz, Vinnie Paz, Lord Goat, Ill Bill, Sha Hef, Jai Black and Watts.
The first track that I dug was “No” which had a 3 verse combo between Eto, Flee Lord and Grafh, over a soundscape by Illien Rosewell. “Nothing Like Me” stands out because it has female vocals, which is something you don’t normally hear in the Rochester emcee’s music. The song makes me imagine bumping it in a sleek car on a cruise drive when you wanna vibe out to something upbeat, but smooth. The Alchemist laced a sinister soundscape for “The Pot” which suits Eto’s more known gritty sound, and has an accompanying visual. Frequent collaborator Willie The Kid, along with Rome Streetz appears on “Rusty Stainless”, with an intricately crafted beat by Statik Selektah.
VDon never disappoints as he provides the best canvas for “Lawless” which Eto enhances with his vivid storytelling, as well as a complimentary verse from Sha Hef. “No Reply” is a joint that introduces listeners to Jai Black, who raps solo as Eto takes the production seat on this one, as well as performing the hook. The project ends with “Back To The BBQ” featuring Watts, and I just wish it was a longer track, because it was produced by Large Professor, whose work I’ve admired over the years. I was never a huge fan of skits, but on this album, they were basically short songs that I enjoyed. Eto outdid and challenged himself by stretching the boundaries in terms of creativity and variety.
Thanks to D Polo, who mixed and mastered the project, you can be assured the sound is quality. The Beauty Of It is out now on all major digital platforms. If you missed the limited CD Digi Pack run, vinyl will be getting released next month, courtesy of Fxck Rxp. -Hipnotik1
