Stu Bangas & Vanderslice, Diggaz With Attitude

In the underground scene, many MC and hip-hop enthusiasts are hip to Stu Bangas & Vanderslice. The dynamic production duo has been known for years as a master diggers, sifting through samples and providing artists with beats with flair and gusto. Now, the team links with a motley crew of rappers to release a 17-track album Diggaz With Attitude.

The core of the album is its production, and that's by no coincidence where it's strongest. Stu Bangas & Vanderslice dug deep for unique samples adding a edge to this project. The production team starts the project out strong with “A Word From The Ghetto Child,” combining choppy high pitched piano key strokes and trumpet sounds, grasping the attention of listeners swiftly. There was obviously much thought put into the sound of this project, as the thought provoking interludes like “The Brutal Music Collection Agency,” and "Thank You, F*ck You” serve as smooth transitions to different feels of the release.

Conceptually, Diggaz With Attitude looks to serve notice to fans of the gritty underworld of the hip-hop game and streets. Stu Bangas & Vanderslice keep the ambiance dark and edgy throughout, and choose wisely in regards to artists they decide to bring into their creative realm. One of the high points of the tape is “The Gusto,” featuring Apathy, Roc Marciano, Evidence and a surprise verse from super producer The Alchemist. Lyrically, all MC hold their own in the fatal four way, weaving effortlessly through the sharp beat with tales about slain foes and how they plan to reach the top of the rap game. Blacastan distributes a solid verse, too, on “Spy Hunter” with bars like “I got that chronic like them Dre CD's, now its MP3's, kids don't be buying CD's/That's invisible units, that’s digital sales, I never fail I'm precise like a digital scale.”

Though the project lacks in the lane of originality, it is nonetheless solid in its production and overall execution. Diggaz With Attitude showcases Stu Bangas & Vanderslice's keen ear and skillset for creating distinguished beats behind witty wordplay. —Christian Mordi (@mordi_thecomeup)