Keelay & Zaire: Ridin’ High

Editor’s note: Thanks to Judge Mental from VinylMeltdown.com for stopping by and guest writing for the site!

Over the past year or so, there have been a heavy influx of producer albums. And the question always presents itself, “who’s on it?” And while, the guest list on Ridin’ High is quite impressive, the production itself is what’s most appreciable on this album. Let’s take a quick step back, and introduce the players. Zaire, despite what might be expected due to the geographical nature of his name, comes from Virginia. Keelay hails from the Bay Area. Together, they make smooth, mellow hip-hop beats, perfect for riding high. It’s not often that you see a production duo where both members really bring a lot to the table, but, it’s pretty clear that these guys have excellent chemistry together. Track by track, you realize that there are clear and definite coastal influences across the board. The balance between the two styles is really nice, and makes for a very cohesive listen.

But who’s on it. Well, there’s Blu, Phonte, Darien Brockton, Emilio Rojas, Supastition, and Planet Asia to name some of the more known. But, even though a lot of the guests on here might not be world renowned stars, each contribution is well thought out, fitting, and a positive contribution to the LP.

While everyone does fit well on the production, there are a couple of tracks that really leave a long-lasting impression. “The Times,” which features Blu, Fortilive, and Nino Moschella on top of simple yet lush, jazzy production, paints a hauntingly real picture of what it’s like to be living today. Blu is the new master of vivid imagery, and he lives up to his reputation on this track. Fortilive (Slo-Mo, Mushmouf, and Illmind) all do their thing on here. Nino Moschella’s vocal contributions are eerily beautiful, and really pull everything together. Other tracks that really push the album forward are the title track, which features smooth vocals from FEMI (not Femi Kuti), and “Addicts for Real,” where Tunji from Inverse spits about his relationship with hip hop over a smooth decidedly West Coast beat.

While the album is a good listen overall, there are a couple things that hold it back. At points it gets too smooth. Not to say that smoothness is a bad thing, but there is grit in soul that can’t be found when the joints are as smooth as velvet. Also, when Phonte doesn’t get to shine on a track because the listener has to suffer through 2 and a half minutes of cheesy R&B to get there on “Alright With Me,” there’s a problem. There are also some really irreconcilably weird moments on the album. “I Used to Ride” feels oddly cartoony, and not in the good DangerMouse kind of way. These moments, and others like them, hold the album slightly, but they by no means compromise the album as a whole.

79/100

Standout Tracks:

Ridin’ High

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The Times

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Addicts for Real

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