Baychester, Bronx, New York outfit the Natural Elements are making their long-awaited full-length debut under Fat Beats Records. Consisting of A-Butta as well as Mr. Voodoo & Swigga, they would go on to sign with Tommy Boy Records in late ‘90s off a debut extended play only to leave after their major label album was shelved. They would return in 2013 with the NE Definitely mixtape & a handful of EPs including All Hail NE, Death Comes in 3s, 3 Kings & 3Times Dope. Over 3 decades since their formation, they’ve made great timing for this aligNmEnt since all of hip hop’s O.G.s have been coming back in recent memory.
“As We Should” opens up with them talking about evolving & adapting with the times since that’s a crucial focal point of the way life works whereas “This Isnt a Drill” produced by the group’s founder Charlemagne finds the trio trading cutthroat bars with each other over a symphonic boom bap instrumental. “Whole Foods of Rap” explains their style being why it’s been so long to get here since Tommy Boy didn’t know what to do with it leading into “We Could Exist” representing their home state.
Meanwhile on “Naturally (Natural E)”, we have the Elements sampling “Alone Again (Naturally)” by Gilbert O’Sullivan decades after the latter’s court battle with the late Biz Markie changed hip hop & the music industry at large forever just before the hardcore “dopamiNE” talks about still having their touch. The soulful boom bap crossover “infiNitE shiNE” continued with them boasting that they’re unstoppable while “Alive & Well” thanks the most high for allowing them to still be here.
“Cosmos is Calling” begins the 2nd half of aligNmEnt venting everything that hits their minds looking at the nighttime sky pondering our existence while the title track hooks up a chilling sample mixed with kicks & snares carrying the same words they honor to this day. “NilE River Flows” sticks to the traditional boom bap sound meshing some keys & occasionally melodic background vocals talking about getting better with age while “Book Smart Street Smart” explains the way they prefer their women.
Things go for a funkier direction for “Y.K.T.V. (You Know the Vibes)” boasting that they’re always on fire while “nooNE Can Tell Me Shiii…” returns to the boom bap & putting an atmospherically soulful twist to it feeling confident of themselves. “Time Doesn’t Exist” explains the very reason they consider themselves timeless & the beat embracing a more nostalgic tone but after “Demon Frequency” confesses to the thing that’s been fucking with their collective vision, the outro “3-Card moNtE” ends NE’s debut album trading bars with each other 1 last time.
Notable for having the late Ka as a member of the Natural Elements at some point during their early years, an official LP from these guys excluding the 1999 compilation has been long overdue & it’s like they never even went through all that label drama 3 decades earlier to begin with. The production mostly handled by Charlemagne brings a durable take on boom bap to the table in enhancing the feeling of the types of songs these guys’ cult following worldwide has become accustomed to since Day 1.
Score: 8/10