Lord Steppington (Deluxe Version)

The Step Brothers in question are Alchemist and Evidence, two of hip-hop's most well-respected producer/rappers. They go all the way back to when the former produced the latter's act, Dilated Peoples, in the late '90s. Having run in the same circles for a decade, Lord Steppington was inevitable, and its loose, casual feel is a testament to the two artists' familiarity with one another. "Byron G" wobbles like it's drunk, with Odd Future's Domo Genesis "rooting for the derelicts" with his guest verse. The track is as ominous as "Buzzing Away" is whimsical, and much of the album splits the difference between the two. "See the Rich Man Play" is a highlight, featuring a heady soul sample and some of Evidence's best verses, as is "Mums in the Garage," a getaway song that finds the inimitable Action Bronson mimicking the song's air of paranoia with his half-yelled flow. The deluxe edition of Lord Steppington features two additional tracks, "String Cheese" and "Bally Shoe"; the latter features Psycho Les of Beatnuts fame.