I can remember the day I received my copy of the Justus League mix tape “N.C. State Of Mind” from this very site back in ’03. I excitedly read the inlay card and one name jumped out at me – Edgar Allen Floe. Not only did I think it was a cool name but I had never heard of him before. Much to my uneducated surprise, he came with one of the strongest songs on the tape; the classic “The Righteous Way To Go”. Further reading of the card said: Edgar Allen Floe – Streetwise – Coming Soon. Who would have thought that “soon” would actually be 5 years later, in 2008.

So was it worth the wait? Once you press play, Floe brings you down memory lane and up to speed at the same time with “What It Is” featuring Median. The warm yet chilling vocal wails exemplify the classic Justus League sound that we all fell in love with in the first place. Further on, Floe offers his unique brand of social commentary on “I See It All”. One line rings especially true when he spits “the fifth grader with a second grade reading skill/with each test failed they know another prison’s filled”. Along with tracks like “Exposure” [which offers details insight into his native North Carolina music scene], it is this unbridled honesty that proves to be Floe’s key strength throughout this 16 track journey. However, the most impressive lyrical display is displayed on the Tragedy Khadafi remake of “Arrest The President”. Floe tears through a stripped down drum break like a man possessed and beats the instrumental into submission for four minutes straight. It truly is an exhilarating listen.

On an album that features production from 9th Wonder and Khrysis, it is upcoming producer Blunt who provides the lushest sound on the closer “Won’t Change”. Floe flows with introspective smoothness over the soulful yet funky sound scape reaffirming his unyielding stance to keep it real and stay true to himself.

All in all, Floe has created a very solid piece of work that bodes well for his future endeavours. While Floe has not made an album that that critics or fans may label an instant classic – he has created a great album that can be listened to from top to bottom. This only proves that Floe is not just “streetwise” but “wise” – period. -K.I.N.E.T.I.K.