Smif and Wessun may recently known to many as the Cocoa Brovaz but that name only came after the gun company made them change their names in the mid-90's.   Tek & Steele are part of the Boot Camp Click featuring Black Moon (more recently just Buckshot), Heltah Skeltah and OGC and while they have been around dropping The Rude Awakening in 1998 it has been the same since the classic album appropriately called Dah Shinin. Now the group has returned and brings the people a 15-track banger featuring production from producers like Khyrsis, Roc Raida, Da Beatminerz, and Coptic.   This is the third part of the rebirth of Duck Down Records that includes the release of albums from Heltah Skeltah's Sean Price a.k.a. Ruck called Monkey Barz & Buckshot & 9 th Wonder's project called Chemistry.  

This album is more than the gun talk you'd expect from a group named for a gun company but that is or was a part of their life so expect to hear a little talk.   This album is more about the people who don't know respecting their time and skills in the game and the old fans getting a taste of their favorite artists talking about the neighborhood, politics and the rap game.  

This album has an awesome collaborations with Dead Prez called "Warrior's Heart (Gangbang)" and the Boot Camp comes to play as Starang Wondah comes thru on "U Undastand Me" also featuring Tony Touch and Buckshot on "City Of God (Cuidad De Dios)" and Heltah Skeltah on "My Timbs Do Work".   Talib Kweli also come thru to drops a line or 20 on "We Came Up (Crystal Stair)".  

Saying all these names doesn't mean that the two don't hold their on and you can see that on tracks like the cinematic "War", "Toolz Of Da Trade" (a mixtape classic), "Gunn Rap" and "PNC Boyz". All the tracks are hard-hitting and/or soulful and not for the person looking to hear today's sound. These two brothers talk from an older perspective and young hustlers need to listen up before making their own mistakes first.   I appreciate the sound and wouldn't have any other way!   Smif N Wessun is a welcomed return to the game. Death to the Cocoa Brovaz: they were suffocated anyway!   Hopefully   in this musical world of downloading, mixtapes and independents labels offering more money than the majors maybe the group can remain afloat and do them to their best!

I'll give the album 4 globes.

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