Thursday, February 4, 2016

The Nonce - Keep It On [1995]



The Nonce aka Da Nonce aka Topology Crew were an L.A. hip hop duo that blessed us with merely one album before disappearing - World Ultimate. This record was released during the height of the jazz rap trend that had permeated the entire country, but like much of the genre it tends to sound east coast due to the instrumentals and flows. Though one can clearly see how state-mates like Digital Underground, Souls of Mischief and The Pharcyde had a hand in influencing their spontaneous, free-flowing sound. The album never received quite the same reverence as projects from these groups but the mellow, nocturnal vibes showcased here on Keep It On are just as potent. The two MCs may not be the most technically proficient but their Phife & Tip-like energy and chemistry are more than enough to compensate for that.

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