Danger Mouse & Black Thought – Cheat Codes (CD)

Cheat Codes, the long-awaited collaboration between US super-producer Danger Mouse and Philadelphia hip-hop institution Black Thought, is an out-and-out pleasure, one chock-full of old-school hip-hop goodness. 'No Gold Teeth', for instance, has a funk bassline so gummy you could chew it contentedly like cud for hours, with Black Thought, one of the most erudite wordsmiths of his generation, riding the beat like a dancer.

“Please, you ain’t fuckin’ with no amateurs, homie,” he sneers, correct on that count as he is on numerous others here: razor-sharp takedowns of racial injustice and masterful braggadocio. No filler, all killer, once on, you’ll have trouble peeling Cheat Codes off the turntable. It’s rare when a rapper can stay at such a high level of skill for so many years, Black Thought is at the top of that list. (Guardian)

Tracklist:
A1 Sometimes 2:10
A2 Cheat Codes 2:14
A3 The Darkest Part 3:44
A4 No Gold Teeth 2:33
A5 Because 4:41
A6 Belize 3:54
B1 Aquamarine 3:58
B2 Identical Deaths 2:41
B3 Strangers 4:08
B4 Close To Famous 2:28
B5 Saltwater 3:22
B6 Violas And Lupitas 2:21