CunninLynguists: Strange Journey Volume 2

There is a certain level of quality you come to expect when you’re listening to a mixtape compared to an album. An artist usually isn’t going to empty out their bag of tricks for what usually serves as a prelude to their album. CunninLynguists, the trio of Kno, Deacon The Villain & Natti, have gone in the complete opposite direction of that thought process not once but twice this year. Strange Journey Volume 2 hit shelves a few months after Volume 1 and continues the Kentucky & Georgia natives’ streak of high quality music. CunninLynguists are undeniably one of the best groups in the last decade and SJV2 is yet another successful addition to add to their growing discography.

Kno has been the backbone of the group since its conception, providing stellar production on each of their releases. Kno handled all the production on Volume 1 and still handles most on Volume 2, all but two tracks. Just like the first Strange Journey, the group includes more guests than compared to their albums. Freddie Gibbs appears on “Imperial” alongside Natti with Deacon providing the hypnotic chorus: “and the beat don’t stop / you can feel it in the lows / imperial rock / imperial roll.” “Running Wild” is yet another gem with Evidence & a reinvigorated E-40 joining Deacon & Natti as all four provide impressive verses.

“Streets” features a pair of vicious verses from Natti and Sean Price over a melodic piano driven beat by Kno. The only let down is that Poison Pen seems to be outclassed by Natti & Sean P on the song. “Everywhere” continues the group’s great chemistry with the Dungeon Family seen on tracks like “Georgia Remix” featuring Khujo Goodie & Killer Mike on SJV1 and “Caved In” with Cee-Lo from A Piece of Strange. Witchdoctor joins them again for the laid back song, much like his appearance on Dirty Acres standout “Yellow Lines” with Phonte .

Although SJV2 contains many guest artists, there are still tracks exclusively by the trio. “Heart” and “To Be Real” prove to be some of the best tracks on the entire project. Natti’s heartfelt lyrics on the latter are especially gripping: “some are as real as the line in they big face bill / others are counterfeit living off of Xerox meal / quickly coming out they mouth like they pulled out grills / see the traffic in the sky but you take off still / living the high life the limelight, I just like the light line / fabricating your life, I just have to write mine / be ahead of the game, gotta have the right mind”

As mentioned earlier, SJV2 does include outside production on a few tracks. J-Zone provides an abrasive backdrop for Deacon & Natti’s bone-chilling rhymes on “Cocaine.” Blue Sky Black Death manage to outdo Kno, remixing “The Park” from their last album Dirty Acres. Kno is still the star, as he puts his touch on remixes of QN5 label mates’ Extended F@mm’s “W.W.K.Y.A. Tour” and Jermiside’s “Still With Me.”

Once again, CunninLynguists simply delivers. The group is carrying on the tradition of the Southern legends like Goodie Mob & OutKast, you could call them the heir to the Dungeon Family throne. Despite the bulk of guest emcees, Deacon & Natti manage to keep the focus on their performances & lead the way on SJV2. Kno provides another project full of his amazing production, showing he is not only one of the best producers in the game right now but maybe ever. Call it a mixtape, call it a street album, call it whatever you want but no matter what you label it, classify it as one thing… excellent.

88/100

Streets

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To Be For Real

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The Park (Blue Sky Black Death Remix)

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