Rahzel’s is a voice that has been heard everywhere from video games to commercials to classic albums over the past half decade or so. Since making a name for himself with the Legendary Roots Crew, Rahzel has definitely paid his dues. Following his off beat solo debut album, Rahzel has gone back to the lab to deliver his sophomore album, Rahzel’s Greatest Knockouts, and with that he attempts to showcase his skills once again for those who may have forgotten.

     Instead of accelerating his skill to a higher degree, Rahzel has chosen to go the mixtape route with previously released material, highlighting him spitting his own half baked rhymes. The results aren’t overwhelmingly impressive, as many of the highlights have been heard before. That doesn’t make it bad for those who never lent an ear to the dope “The Lesson Pt.1″ featuring Black Thought and Dice Raw, who collectively rip his vernacular beat machine to bits; likewise for those who never heard Supernatural demonstrate his incredible freestyle ability on the “Tribute to Jam Master Jay” when Supernatural rhymes “underwater” (you’ve gotta hear it to believe it). But moments such as those don’t exactly elevate the beat box game to new heights. Much of the album is the same-ol-same-ol, as Rahzel’s beat boxing skills become rather stale after trudging through 26 tracks. Objectively, how many times can one take Rahzel’s robot voice? While still he possesses an incredible ability that nobody can deny, after six years in the game, one would think that he would bring a different meal to the table. No doubt that “Rahzel vs. Rob Swift” is an incredible work of art, but it becomes an almost certain realization that Rahzel’s talent has turned more into a shtick than anything else.

    Unless you are a die hard beat box fanatic there isn’t much to offer on Rahzel’s Greatest Knockouts. Sure, Rahzel has exemplary beat box skills that many couldn’t hold a candle to, but it just doesn’t translate very well to a LP format. Chalk it up to it being one of those things that is better seen in person than heard on CD.