North Carolina’s Justus League crew has made tremendous noise over the past couple of years. When Little Brother’s debut album The Listening dropped, it brought hip-hop back to the golden age with rhymes that spoke more than guns and ice and beats that truly made the neck brace an essential item, due to all the head nodding. Now the Justus League crew has gone on to pursue solo endeavors which leads us to the next member’s highly anticipate project. LEGACY (Life Ends Gradually And Changes You) has now been passed the baton to keep the buzz healthy with his debut project Project Mayhem.

    With 9th Wonder and Khrysis behind the boards, one is already ahead of the game with production that is out of this world. But production alone is not what makes an album. It is up to LEGACY to carve his own niche as The Justus League’s next star and he rightfully boasts his cause on the cockstrong “I’m A Star”. With his Justus League members, Median, Chaundon and Joe Scudda, rhyming alongside him on a righteous Khrysis production, LEGACY flexes his awkward rhyme scheme to proficient results. But LEGACY also tackles multiple concepts on joints such as “Imperfect World”, “Fast Girls” and the fiercely clever “2 Sided Coin.” LEGACY laments ironic situations such as “a virgin/ her first time sexing/ and she gets pregnant/2 sided/ drowning at your swimming lesson” which showcase a theorist side of the emcee. His constant references to early 90′s culture are also prevalent and refreshing throughout. Though sometimes his style may have some listeners searching for the punchlines, upon multiple listens one can catch up with his rolling vocabulary.

    But the production is a beast all to it’s own. 9th Wonder still finds a way to outdo himself every time out and Project Mayhem is no exception. By infusing the soul into “Sista Girl”, adding the dreamy element to “Insomnia”, or just completely slaying a song with “Cold As A Butcher” 9th can honestly make a claim to be one of the top producers in the game. Khysis isn’t too far behind his partner. Whether it be the massive thump of “Mayhem” or backing Phonte and LEGACY’s romp (with Phonte’s truly wicked verse) with head rocking drums on “Pure” he also makes a case to be this year’s up and coming beatsmith.

    Although many may not adapt to LEGACY’s rumbling rhyme scheme, it still works for those with open ears. With the perfect balance of beats and rhymes, Project Mayhem should wreak havoc on hip-hop culture while securing the Justus League’s place as the ones to watch in 2005.