Wordsworth & Stu Bangas Level Up Their “Chemistry” (Album Review)

Brooklyn, New York emcee Wordsworth has returned for his 7th studio LP. A member of the duo Punch n Words & the trio eMC, he officially made his solo debut 2 decades ago already with Mirror Music followed by The Photo Album & the Donel Smokes-produced New Beginning. After JSOUL went on to produce his debut EP Blame It on Music & later Sam Brown doing Our World Today respectively, the next EP Undivided Attention would be an improvement over Blame It on Music & The Fragility of Life was overloaded with too many features. Stu Bangas produced 2 Kings & the Chemistry was enough for them to a sequel.

“The Realtor” sets up shop with a boom bap instrumental using a gospel sample comparing himself to a real estate agent whereas “Strangers” featuring Sage Francis & Wreckonize ruggedly talks about their distrust towards that crowd of people. “It Took a Village” featuring Pearl Gates instrumentally keeps things in the basement explaining the cost of raising & keeping them safer just before “It Ain’t Over” eerily details the demise of a character who’ll get their vengeance.

As for the title track, we have Wordsworth over a soulful boom bap beat talking about his & Stu’s talents balancing each other chemically leading into “The Only Sin” featuring Ruste Juxx talking about one not trying being their biggest misdeed. “Don’t Get in the Way” has this apocalyptically raw approach to the instrumental sending advice to everyone listening after having friends become foes while “Username” uses a melodically pitched vocal sample talking about being overwhelmed as of late.

“People in My Neighborhood Too” featuring Masta Ace finds both eMC members linking up to tell stories of their home borough out in Breukelen while the luxuriously dusty “Nominated” celebrates the year he spent elevating himself. “I Was Raised” by Punch n Words featuring Apathy angrily brings the trio together so they can discuss their printings & after the motivational “1 Chance”, we have MidaZ the BEAST & NapsNdreds joining Words for the decent rap rock outro “Get Ya Boy”.

Nearly 26 months since 2 Kings became my 2nd favorite entry in Wordsworth’s solo discography right behind The Photo Album, he & Stu Bangas have done it again leveling up their Chemistry in the process of making another late career highlight for the New York veteran. It has a tighter guest list & Stu’s production continues to rejuvenate Words’ passion enough where the latter lyrically gets more brutal than he was a couple years earlier.

Score: 9/10

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