Quite Nyce & Radar Ellis: Champ Vs. The League

There is nothing like getting your hands on one of those albums that takes you back to the days of falling asleep with your headphones blasting in your ears. Or hearing a track that instantaneously created the head nod we all have mastered because it spoke volumes beyond just beats and lyrics. Those are the kind of moments hip hop heads long for. So when Quite Nyce & Raydar Ellis‘ album Champ Vs. The League came under my radar, nostalgia reared its head like Redman around a bunch of plus size women.

Radar (Short Bus Alumni and Project Move), who released his debut Late Pass in 2006, teamed up with Quite Nyce (RADix) to bring about a solid project that was long overdue. The two, who met at a show, finally came together to bring forth their first project as a duo and to take their stake in the hip hop game.

What’s clear offhand is that the production on this album steals the spotlight and pushes it to the forefront leaving the lyrical content in the cold, but not to far behind. We are introduced to “Leading The Leaders” that ushers in a strong platform built on hard drums and layers of samples, but lyrically fails to convince listeners the two emcees are leaders of the pack. With a rugged sample of Method Man‘s voice from “How High” looming in the background, the verses should have displayed more brunt with their wordplay. The track “Holla Bout A Dolla” also has a grittiness that matches the lyrical finesse that is drenched in social consciousness while building intensity with an array of sounds.

“LaLaLaLa” gives us a witty yet clever trip into the realities of the world and brings about an awareness that weighs heavy on even the most detached head. The production might confuse some into thinking it’s a dance track about clubbing but the beat hits hard enough to capture your attention while remaining simplistic enough to not overshadow the message Raydar and Nyce are conveying. The duo hits the nail on the head with “Broken Promises.” This is one of those tracks that gives Raydar and Nyce an advantage in the sense they can tackle subjects; like watching a friend battle a drug addiction and express their disdain and personal plight of holding on without coming off as “soft.”

Some of the lyrics on this album struggle to match the infectious production that overshadows what lives in the minds of two emcees that have a lot of potential. “Love Is” could have been one of the standout tracks but its cliché concept of hip hop being the object of the emcees affection is a commonality that lacks originality. “They Say It’s The End” comes off somewhat melodramatic with an elongated intro to a song that gives us a glimpse into some of the struggles both emcees faced regarding their faith, temptations and overcoming adversity. Quick to point out the fact they weren’t preaching, the track might have served as a conscious for the listener had they simply focused on the message and allowed for the lyrics to speak through the mic. “If I Never” featuring Akil (Jurassic 5) and Solstice (of Wade Waters) has a melodic energy that evens out some of the more aggressive beats throughout the album. Although the landscape is pleasing, the lyrics are mediocre. “Clap” and “Ms. September” don’t come off as stand out tracks but are still good enough to prevent you from hitting your right arrow button.

Overall, Champ Vs. The League holds eccentric lyrics over infectious production that serve as storyboards for two artists that found their niche. Although some moments make the album fall short of being a classic, overall it makes for a good listen. Whether it’s a throwback to posse cut days or the Native Tongue era remains to be seen, but Raydar and Nyce released a dope album that is sure to please even the most skeptic head that has their headphones secretly tucked away.

76/100

Standout Tracks:

“LaLaLaLa”

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“Broken Pieces”

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“The Spirit”

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