Frank N Dank - The EP

Former protégés of the sadly deceased Jay Dilla, Detroit hip-hop twosome Frank N Dank make a return with more of an LP than an EP. Comprising 13 tracks, the pair have joined forces with Amsterdam label Dopeness Galore. The label has gathered a selection of Dutch producers to produce beats upon which Frank N Dank drop some old-school lyrical stylings, side-stepping their more characteristic hustler tales. The I.N.T produced One Time For The... sees them drop lyrics celebrating the classic simplicity of Two MCs and a DJ, while Elsas creates a funky head-nodder on Spitkicker. Elsewhere, Wouda provides the nineties hip hop backdrop of Ruff, Ragged & Raw, while Kid Sublime gives us the hypnotic, scratch-filled Clap Hands, letting Frank N Dank cut loose in a freestyle fashion on both. In between these cuts, the Dutch get to flex their beat-making skills further on a variety of enjoyable instrumental skits, making this release a great all-rounder. [Colin Chapman]