Working Hard or Hardly Working?

In 2001, Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark released an EP entitled Another Day Another Dollar. Now the two are collaborating once again on their latest release,  self-titled Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark. Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark have more in common with each other than with their new LP. Both have been a part of notable hip hop acts: Nu-mark as a DJ for Jurassic 5 and Slimkid3 as one of the original members of The Pharcyde.

Slimkid3 and DJ  Nu-Mark starts off strong with the track “Work Hard” featuring K-Natural. Rarely is the first song an album the best, but this may be an exception. Nu-Mark lays out a nice beat for Slimkid3 and K-Natural to perform over.  It’s nothing phenomenal  or earth shattering, rather it’s just a nice chill tune with a nice throwback feel too it.  “I Know Didn’t I” featuring Darondo is another track with a similar appeal.  From the Motown-esque  samples to Darando’s chorus, it’s hard not to love this song. “No Pity Party” is also arranged well by Nu-Mark.  The instrumental is the real meat of the meal here. Slimkid3 does a decent job but it’s forgettable, where the beat is definitely not.

These two artists have hours of studio time under their belts, and on Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark they show that they are no amateurs. These 10 tracks are the sounds of professionals doing what they love.  Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark aren’t out to prove anything or make a name for themselves, because they already have.  Now they have the opportunity to make the kind of music they want.  Slimkid3 and DJ Nu-Mark is the kind of album you can throw on while driving or just doing chores around the house. There’s no deep underlining message or pompous instrumentals.  This is just a hip hop album not pretending it’s something else.