The Mail Bin: Pugslee Atomz, V.S.O.P., and Baller Status

by J-Ro

Lastly, we received a huge selection of music from Audio 8 Records, including a great new Pugslee Atomz disc entitled "Playing With Matches." Atomz has been around the block a couple times, but this album is a bit different, an anthem to Pugslee's youth growing up as a graffiti writer on the streets. The tracks cover a range of topics, from the reminiscent "Vandal Squad" to "All City" with Pugslee professing his love for the people that struggled in Chicago years ago. All the tracks feature some diverse, atmospheric, and downright spooky production by Polyphonic, V Traxxx, Credo, Kato, Maker, and Mr. Diggs. A personal favorite, "Props" combines a Outkast sample with the piano theme from "Bohemian Rhapsody"!

Its really the combination of the production and Pugslee's lyrical style that bring this disc together. The samples float in and out from behind the drums, and Puglee's voice sits back in the mix, combining to form a hazy memory world. This album sounds like the moments you might remember from your hip hop youth coming at you from the past. It's really worth picking up a copy of this album.

More information on the rest of the Audio 8 lineup and the Pugslee Atomz release is available at audio8.com.