Hip hop is peaking, it's in rare form as it emerges from the bling bling era in to a new age where the skill of the craft is shining through. It many cases, the top folks in the game are going back to the future with the quintessential hip hop sound that sucked us all in to the hip hop universe back in the day at the forefront of the resurgence. You would think that any sort of combination between DJ Premier and Royce Da 5"9 would result in a classic hip hop album, not in terms of quality but in terms of sound. In a weird way, the combo that is PRhyme are equally as futuristic as they are classical and the end result is an album that is the blueprint for modern hip hop.

The basis of this is the concept of sampling Adrian Younge's work. Younge is a musical mastermind taking hip hop on a journey through history using live instrumentation and a variety of funky sounds. That's where I find myself scratching my head as Preem samples someone who's work is a bit of a throwback and combines it with that boom-bap hip hop sound that is meat and vege for Preem. That leaves you with a sound that despite drawing strongly on history, is super modern because no one else has done anything like it.

The PRhyme album was released a few weeks after SHADY XV with the common factor being Royce Da 5"9. The overall sound of the Shady album just didn't really tickle my fancy and I wasn't initially eagerly anticipating hearing Royce on a whole album by himself. But the combination of one of the best to ever be on the boards and someone who has bars for days is pretty awesome, it leaves you admiring to craftsmen who despite being seasoned veterans are still at the top of their game. 

The overall subject matter is pretty stock standard,  with Royce doing what he does best - keeping it real. There's no tickle me Elmo approach, Royce takes shot at weak rappers, explores the joys of having hoes and is very much a street poet, which I love. The overall look at things doesn't do it justice though, the subtle way Royce offers variety keeps you rewinding or trying to simply connect the dots and figure shit out. Royce could say the same thing over and over again (he kind of does), but every time it's packaged differently whether it's the way he crafts the sentence or whether it's simply the most complex word play leaving your gasping for air. 

On the Shady project, I didn't really want to hit repeat as the songs just weren't as enjoyable to listen to. But with Preemo on the boards you're rewarded for rewinding to figure out what the fuck Royce is up to by also gaining a different perspective at Preem's production. Whether it's hearing a new sound, a new composition or hearing something different in Royce's rhymes, you're always engaged.

With two OG's teaming up, the guest list can be considered a bit of a salute. Ab-Soul and Mac Miller feature on Dat Sound Good as they keep the word play and straight up and down bars skill level high. On Wishin Royce is joined by Common to juggle the multiple beats that Preem serves up, once again Common holds his own alongside Royce.

The same can definitely be said about Jay Electronica, who dishes up a pretty crazy verse on To Me, To You. Royce warms up the track with two fire verses, then Electronica appears like a deep, godly voice offering you guidance. It's something else. Underground Kingz features another wizard with the words in Killer Mike dropping some of his now expected fire along with Schoolboy Q who keeps it funky in the mandatory salute to UGK. Schoolboy might not be able to compete with Royce and Mike in terms of lyricism and word play, but he definitely suits the track and sounds at home amongst two beasts. It would be rude not to get the homies Slaughterhouse up on the track and they join Royce on Microphone Preem.

PRyhme is a combination and a project that for me sums up hip hop in 2014. It's pure hip hop, with a foundation knee deep in the drum patterns that we love but to add some spice they embrace the work of Adrian Younge. DJ Premier and Royce go back in to history to go forwards but they don't live in the past nor do they venture too far in to the future. While many young cats are going back to the 90's and adding some spice to it from a young gun perspective, it's dope to see two veterans taking it back but keeping it fresh with some of their spice.

My Bang Up Banger is To Me, To You thanks largely to the appearance of Jay Electronica but the way Royce goes hard for two verses beforehand is pretty damn solid.

What Is It? It's the collaboration of two veterans who are supremely skilled at their craft having some fun. Royce and Preem are doing what they love and this PRhyme album feels like it was something fresh and exciting for them to flex their muscle on.