Sound of Market is a heavy, head-nodding return from The High & Mighty that doesn’t chase relevance or trends. Instead, it digs deep into their own lane—grimy, punchline-packed rhymes over rugged, loop-driven beats with enough vinyl crackle and backspins to light up any old head’s memory bank. This isn’t a comeback record that tries to update the formula; it’s an album that sharpens it—it is the duo’s best work since their 1999 Home Field Advantage debut album.
DJ Mighty Mi’s production lays the foundation with familiar tools—boom bap drums, filtered basslines, thick loops—but there’s no recycling here. His approach sounds purposeful and built with care, not nostalgia. The drums hit with the right snap. Samples are dirty without sounding muddy. Horn chops, piano riffs, and scratch hooks slide in naturally. It’s clear these beats weren’t thrown together—they were carved out for Eon to work with precision.
Mr. Eon wastes no time. “2 Man Crew” opens the record with a sharp statement of intent. No buildup, no gimmicks. He jumps straight in, locking into the beat with a voice that sounds focused and hungry. There’s a lived-in edge to his delivery—aggressive but never forced, confident without slipping into caricature. On “Zounds,” he pushes through with defiance, rapping like a man brushing off rust by pulverizing it.
“Pinky Tuskadero” brings Kool Keith into the mix, and the energy shifts. Keith floats over the soulful backdrop with his signature stream-of-consciousness style, while Eon grounds the track with a tighter structure. The contrast works because the beat gives them space. Same goes for “6ers & Squires” with Madd Skillz, which hits with more bite—Skillz comes in energized, and the two trade verses with a clarity that cuts through the mix.
The album’s structure is smart. It’s not bloated, and it doesn’t drag. Even with a long guest list, the pacing feels right. Tracks are sequenced to build momentum rather than flatten it. “Super Sound” with Breeze Brewin is a strong midpoint, landing on a gritty loop that allows both MCs to paint with detail. Breeze brings clever phrasing and a calm confidence, letting the boom bap beat do the rest.
“The Rose Bowl” takes it up a notch with a standout verse from Your Old Droog, riding an Alchemist soul sample that loops like a busted record store speaker. Droog keeps things sharp, layered with references and rhythm, while Eon’s tone remains steady and exact. “Dubbs Up” pulls in King T for a touch of G-funk flavor, and while it shifts the vibe slightly, the track still fits thanks to Mi’s careful beat choice—a bouncing groove underneath thick snares.
“Prism,” with Large Professor and Tash, dives into cavernous boom bap, though the mix on this one feels slightly off—muted in spots, which dulls the punch. That said, the verses still connect. Large Pro keeps it rooted, while Tash brings an off-kilter energy that jabs against the beat. It’s not the sharpest track in terms of sound quality, but the personality of the MCs pulls it through.
There’s a short scratch-heavy break in “Mighty’s Big 5 (Live from the Palestra)” that resets the mood—pure turntablism, no filler. Then the Smut Peddlers reappear on “Most In Outs,” one of the dirtiest, most aggressive cuts on the record. The beat is piano-driven and grimy, pulling no punches. It’s a reminder that Eon and Cage can still lock in with that Eastern Conference venom.
“I. Goldberg,” with Sadat X and MC Serch, keeps things rugged. The loop is simple and direct. No bells or whistles, just a platform for bar-heavy verses that swing with weight. “Funk ‘O’ Mart”, with Chubb Rock, hits next, and the tribute to a record store where DJ Tat Money worked lands as a deep cut, both literally and thematically. It’s not a standout in terms of hook or melody, but it earns its spot with atmosphere and memory.
“Spaceport,” featuring Chill Rob G and Copywrite, adds more heat. It’s a wild ride—punchlines, references, and a pace that never slips. “Hide your kids” might be the hook line, but there’s no gimmick here—just three skilled MCs tearing up a beat that demands attention.
The closing stretch keeps the energy high. “Highest Degree,” with O.C., is rugged and sharp, filled with straight-ahead bars and a thumping drumline. O.C. comes in smooth and deliberate, balancing Eon’s more jagged flow. Finally, “2 High Whiteys” closes the record with a nod to the past—specifically the Masta Ace “Acknowledge” misunderstanding from the early 2000s. Instead of dragging out old beef, the duo flip the line into something more reflective, rapping over a blues loop that sounds like it was lifted straight from a dusty 45.
Taken as a whole, Sound of Market is grounded, clear-headed Hip Hop made with intention. The High & Mighty haven’t tried to reinvent anything here, and that’s exactly why it works. This is a record built on bars, drums, loops, and experience. The features are used with purpose, the beats are consistent, and the tone stays locked from beginning to end. The mix isn’t flawless—certain tracks could hit harder with some engineering tweaks—but the feel is intact.
In an era crowded with short attention spans and playlist filler, Sound of Market sticks to the formula that made The High & Mighty cult favorites in the first place. There’s no pandering here. No trend-chasing. No gloss. It’s Hip Hop with weight and grit, made by artists who know their lane and still have something to say inside it. For longtime fans, it’s a strong return. For newcomers, it’s a gateway to a world where the beats are rough, the rhymes hit sharp, and the mic never gets dropped.
8/10
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