I've always felt that Reef the Lost Cauze was one of the more underrated members of Army of the Pharaohs. For some reason he really still hasn't gotten his due yet. When he played in Rochester two years ago, he was just standing in front of the stage enjoying the show before he hit the stage. A truly humble MC with a very distinct and original flow, now is the time for Reef to really shine. In an era where most MCs turn the auto-tune on high and feature more R & B singers and weak production than anything else, it is truly refreshing to hear someone like Reef making their presence felt in the underground. Like his contemporaries in Jedi Mind Tricks, Reef proudly carries the hip-hop torch for the city of Philadelphia. Not an overnight success by any means, Reef has been grinding hard in this hip-hop game for the better part of the last decade. Featuring a plethora of hip-hop talent (guest appearances by Vinnie Paz, Kool G Rap, Slaine, R.A. The Rugged Man, and Big Noyd just to name a few), Reef really knows how to share the mic with some of hip-hop's heaviest hitters. But even on the tracks where he raps solo, Reef is still able to produce catchy and quotable hip-hop songs. Most of the production on this album is top notch, although the intro and the first track "OPG Theme" are the standout tracks here for me. That's not to say that there aren't other bangers on here. The tracks "Lazy Sunday" and "Three Greats" are straight bangers and are not to be slept on this summer. This album is going to be essential to complete anyone's east coast underground hip-hop collection.
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