C-Rayz Walz:
Year of the Beast

Release Date: 16 May 2005

Reviewed By: Oli Marlow

1. R'thentic

2. First Words Worse

3. Knowledge

4. Walkthrough-Rob Sonic

5. The Rhyme Intervention

6. Street Reppin

7. Paradise

8. Music take Ovah

9. Pink - Jean Grea

10. Carefree - Jeanine

11. Saywerd

12. Blackout

13. Black Soup-M-ill-itant

14. Mark of the Beast

15. Officially Lost [*]

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C-Rayz Walz is one of those rappers whose reputation precedes him wherever he goes and whatever he releases. After releasing an astounding 20 singles on various labels, winning the EOW MC competition an unprecedented three times and being banned from the Blaze Battle for defeating all participants in prior showdowns, he returns with his sophomore full length on the independent juggernaut that is Definitive Jux Records. 

Drenched in clever rhymes and crisp production, ‘Year of the Beast’ showcases yet another strain of forward thinking hip hop and it’s the album’s air of buoyant intelligence that shines throughout. Much like fellow label-mate Murs, C-Rayz approaches ears with a bouncy, bass heavy mix delivering his wordplay with gusto, constructing a sometimes mellow output that seldom disappoints. 

The guest producers come equipped with crunchy drums and subtle atmospherics providing some very interesting results that seep into your person with a kind of aural enthusiasm that can’t fail to delight.  

Label owner and ex-Company Flow maestro, El-P’s production contribution, ‘Paradise’, is a perfect example of this zest, as it engulfs you from the opening sample throughout the crispy drums and swirling synths. 

Catchy 22 and E Cleazy supply a Fifties’ ballroom sample-infused offering in ‘First Words Worse’. The track explodes with the power of the kick drum, which when combined with C-Rays’ and El-P’s respective flows, produces one of the albums standout tracks. Other notable beat contributions come from fellow Def Junkie Aesop Rock, Emile, Belief and C-Rayz himself. 

The thing about ‘Year of the Beast’ is that after listening to it you can’t really fault it for anything. It’s got all the elements that make great hip hop. Good music, fat drums and intelligent lyrics, although there’s sometimes a lack of the darkness we’ve come from projects associated with Def Jux. Instead, C-Rayz, after a year and a half of seclusion, has fashioned a consistently fresh album through the relentless thump of the bass lines and his lyrical prowess. 

Vocal donations come from Rob Sonic, Jean Grae, 4th Pyramid, Pudge, the aforementioned El-P and M-1 of Dead Prez, amongst others; but few of them fail to eclipse C-Rayz who stamps his poetic elegance all over the album. On tracks like ‘Say Werd’, ‘Black Soap’ and ‘First Words Worse’, he excels himself and the end product can’t help but make your head nod. 

‘Year of the Beast’ would be a welcome addition to any record collection as it offers a truly innovative and original style and you can’t falter C-Rayz as he spins his words. Holding some gems within its cover, the album leaves you ultimately enthused, although some tracks do get a little old too early. 

Rating: 4 out of 5 

11) Say Werd

7) Paradise

2) First Words Worse

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