In hip-hop at large, few beatsmiths dare to release albums predicated largely on instrumental work. Once, LPs driven by rapper-free beats like Pete Rock’s Petestrumentals served as documents reminding hip-hop heads the culture was born on DJ tables; today, producers let their voices be heard through their rapper Rolodexes instead of beat machines. At its best, The Extremities’ The Mint Condition is reminiscent of a nu-jazz-inspired Pete Rock, with Fresh Kils’ nimble drum machine matching snare for snare with Halifax DJ Uncle Fester’s scratches, over horn ballasts and swelling piano. While six tracks are still laced with raps, you’ll forget they were even there; instead, this pocket-sized burst of no-filler-all-killer hip-hop leaves a real sense of just who The Extremities are.
This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2011.