Time Machine’s new project VICIOUS EXPERIMENTS is on the way. It will be a free download of all new TM music with guest spots from Apathy, Damu The Fudgemunk, Raw Poetic, Juan Deuce, Jesse Calico, King Guttah I, and Thes One of PUTS.

    When Jaysonic, Mekalek and Comel dropped Slow Your Roll, many jaded fans of hip-hop welcomed the debut album with open arms. Not because of its punchlines and metaphors or its trunk rattling, but because of the way the album carried itself. As a light-hearted hip-hop album that didn’t take itself too seriously, but still composed all the elements that made early 90′s hip hop incredible to those who came up in that era. So continuing in that direction, the trio link up to create an album that consists of all the elements that would make hip-hop fun again. In what seems like the group acting on the concept of a dream job of running a radio show, Time Machine creates a station all to its own with TM Radio.

     The album treads a concept that has been killed over the years- the radio concept. I don’t care how many ways you slice it, the radio concept has been used way too much. But Time Machine feels the need to run the concept one more time, and in some ways, it actually works. As a part compilation album (courtesy of the Mekalek Mixshow halfway through the album), the album features Time Machine production backing up some of the group’s buddies and some new joints of their own. Utilizing a true radio concept, the album really feels as if you are tuning into your favorite radio show as Jay and Comel guide the listener along 60 minutes of music. From guests popping in, to what seems like true radio spontaneity, TM Radio gets kudos for really recreating a radio show without it sounding forced. There are some real jewels packed into this compilation. On “Make Some Noise” Edo G. and Masta Ace really tear shit down when being backed by a boom-bap Mekalek production. Raashan Ahmad, of Crown City Rocker fame, pops in on the radio show to lend his swagger to the super groovy “Duh Huh” and Celph Titled delivers more outlandish one-liners on “Down and Dirty About My Scratch.” Time Machine also comes correct with other ill moments such as “Caught on Tape” and the extra smooth “On the Moon.” Sure there are some moments that are kind of ho-hum (Fedd Hill’s “To The Top” and Shawn Jackson’s “Dream Come True”) but what radio doesn’t.

    Although the album’s radio theme can get a little played out after clocking in at 20 tracks, TM Radio is still a throwback album of sorts that reminds us that hip-hop isn’t dead. It’s just buried real deep in a pile of shit that makes finding good hip-hop extremely hard to find. But if you dig deep enough, you’ll find it.

     Remember when albums weren’t so serious, containing elements of comedic and whimsical fun? Slow Your Roll embodies those same elements that made hip-hop the ever-evolving art form it is today. Subject matter gets tossed around like a game of hot potato. From the clever play on words of “Spelling Bee” to giving hard rocks the gas face on the Edan assisted @$$hole”, Time Machine demonstrates their ability to not give the listener 60 minutes of tough talk battle rap or the cookie cutter format of bankrolls, hoes and clothes that many label shaped emcees openly exhibit today.  Even the run of the mill subject of females gets an appealing new spin on joints like “Reststop Sweetheart” where the duo lament on the subject of meeting chicks at the last place many would even think of running into the woman of their dreams. One can attempt to argue that Jaysonic and Comel aren’t the greatest emcees, but you can’t deny that their merry go round of subjects does definitely keep the album fresh.

     Remember when beats were really dope? Not to say that many of the beatsmiths that gather at the gates of hip hop today don’t have good production, but Time Machine’s producer, Comel, takes you back to the early 90′s with the greatest of ease. While Time Machine doesn’t have a signature sound you can put a finger on, it does make the album unique in its own special way. The reggae bounce of “Mind In A Spin” features a noteworthy performance from Edo. G, amongst its subsonic soundscapes. The smooth groove of “Personal Ads” sways along with a vocal sample that assists the emcees splendidly along their escapades of finding the perfect lady. Even the smacking drums of “The Way Things Are” swaggers at an irresistible rate, amidst a stirring female vocal sample. The beats are so good in fact that Time Machine drops “Water In Your Cereal”, an instrumental that doesn’t disturb the progress of the album.

     Remember when finding a good album wasn’t a difficult feat? Nowadays it’s the exact opposite, as many albums contain only one or two good songs, meaning you’ve wasted 15 dollars on a single or two. Slow Your Roll contains moments that hip-hop heads who yearn for a solid album can appreciate. After breezing effortlessly through 60 minutes of good clean hip-hop, each listener will be able to pick out his/her favorite tracks, and at the end of the day no answer is wrong. While a Time Machine may be needed to revisit hip hop during its glory days, no individual can argue with a group who takes it upon themselves to give the listener a nostalgic taste of fun loving hip hop.