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The supergroup birthed on Ill BIll’s “Ill Bill Is The Future Vol.2: Ima Goon!” is back! A few things have happened since the release of their “very-long awaited” debut album “A Brand You Can Trust”. Slaine released his first nationally distributed solo album “A World With No Skies 2.0”, and Ill Bill released a pair of collaboration albums. One was with DJ Muggs and one was done withVinnie Paz.  DJ Lethal’s former band Limp Bizkit released Gold Cobra, and Everlast left the group to care for his sick daughter leaving only Danny Boy, DJ Lethal, Ill Bill, and Slaine in the group. Their deal with Suburban Noize also fell through which lead to this album being solely released on Ill BIll’s label Uncle Howie Records. And there’s the starting points for “Masters Of The Dark Arts”.

The album has alot of the same elements you’d expect from the Uncle Howie camp, with hard beats and mind-altering lyrics. “Creed Of The Greedier” is one of the hardest tracks you will ever hear from LCN. Slaine and Ill BIll rock their own intense flows while Danny Boy rounds it out with one hell of a good 16 bar verse (Danny Boy’s only appearance on the album). This song is probably going to be the breakout track of the record. “Mind Your Business [Produced by the legendary DJ Premier (Nas, Non Phixion, Common, Gangstar)]” is a song talking about the rumors of each member heard online. “The Story Goes On” is a personal tale with the first verse being all about Ill Bill and Necro’s own uncle himself.. The late Uncle Howie. “.38 револьвер f. Big Left” is like a sequel to the classic “Gun in your mouth” from the last album. The song “Malverde Market” was a story about some cult shit mixed with some extreme criminal acts… Sorta like alot of older Ill Bill tracks from his past with Non Phixion (Futurama, Black Helicopters from “The Future Is Now”) and solo tracks from The Hour Of Reprisal and his collab albums with Muggs and Paz. The album closes with the title track “Masters Of The Dark Arts”. The song once again has another cult-like track on that ass and it’s lyrical breakdown slaps ya in the face making you think long and hard about alot of the things in the world!

All in all Masters Of The Dark Arts was one hell of a follow up to A Brand You Can Trust. It takes away alot of the hardcore/gangsta style hip hop the first album gave you and threw something out that’ll keep “The Goons” happy and begging for more! This album is will make your sound system rattle and get your mind thinking about alot of stuff. Intelligence and violence mixed together…. Coka style!

Tracklisting:

1. “My Universe” f. Vinnie Paz (prod. Statik Selektah)
2. “Creed Of The Greedier” (prod. Sicknature)
3. “המוסד” (prod. DJ Lethal & Scott Stallone)
4. “Mind Your Business” (prod. DJ Premier)
5. “Electronic Funeral” f. Sean Price (prod. Beat Butcha)
6. “The Story Goes On” (prod. DJ Lethal)
7. “Letter To Ouisch” (prod. ILL BILL & DJ Lethal)
8. “Snow Beach” f. Thirstin Howl the 3rd (prod. Jack Of All Trades)
9. “The Eyes Of Santa Muerte” f. Sick Jacken (prod. ILL BILL)
10. “Murder World” (prod. C-Lance)
11. “Coka Kings” f. Vinnie Paz (prod. C-Lance)
12. “.38 револьвер” f. Big Left (prod. Sicknature)
13. “Malverde Market” (prod. ILL BILL)
14. “Masters Of The Dark Arts” (prod. DJ Lethal)

Favorite Tracks:

1. My Universe
2. Mind Your Business
3. .38 револьвер
4. Masters of the Dark Arts

Length:

• 50 Minutes 22 Seconds

Record Label:

• Uncle Howie/Fat Beats Records

Release Date:

• 07/31/2012

Purchase:

• Purchase "Masters of the Dark Arts" @ FYE.com - $12.99

Websites:

• LaCokaNostra.com

Reviewer:

• KM