Illogic may go down in hip-hop history as the most consistently underappreciated lyricist of our time (then again, if he is so criminally unknown, how would he go down as anything?). Release after release, Illogic has decorated each and every album with witty lyricism, intricate wordplay and clever concepts. With Write 2 Death 2, Illogic deters from the original Write 2 Death concept, creating a less poetic release in favor of a more hip-hop oriented album. But will he succeed with his production partner Blueprint MIA?

    Throughout Write 2 Death 2, Illogic reinforces the fact that he is a truly dope emcee. He may have been categorized as “abstract” and “out there”, but in that, he does a great job. What he accomplishes in this album is the fact that he can make joints that will rock the domes of the hardcore hip-hop head. Take Walter Rocktight’s head rocking production of “Time is Coming”, where Illogic spreads some battle induced rhymes over a track that one can visualize being performed in front of Timberland rocking, hat to the back wearing fans. The same can be said for the distorted bass of “Get Up (Remix).” The Earmint production sounds lovely when layered with Ill’s vicious vocals. These two joints may find Illogic claiming a few new fans who aren’t too keen on theoretical poetics, but still love some hard hitting punchlines backed by rock solid beats.

    For long time Illogic fans, there are still seminal poetic joints that continue to bend the mind. Blockhead lends an abstract hand on “An Ocean” where Illogic’s poetics are masterfully backed by serene backdrops. “Capsized” finds Ill quite effectively narrating yet another of his complex stories. He still speaks in abstract poetry for his long time fans but finds the b-boy in himself as well.      

    Write 2 Death 2 is a solid album, but misses Blueprint’s ever evolving production. But that’s not to say that the production isn’t substantial and provide Illogic with a pretty decent backdrop to lay his introspective vocals. Some of the production gets a little too abstract at times, but regardless it serves its purpose. But this must all be a tease for the next full length album from Illogic (with hopefully some Blueprint beats).