[Album] FIRST DIVISION - "The Critical Path Pt. 2"

Earlier this year Marco Polo co-signed Ontario duo First Division dropped the first part of their two volume album "The Critical Path", a real gem for the true hip-hop heads. Now Shylow and Expertise is back with the second installment on some rugged boom bap shit with a lot of slick rhymes, turntable wizardry and heavy beats by Marco Polo, DJ Skizz, Beatwyze and Killing Skills. If you want the full experience I recommend listening to both volumes back to back.

FIRST DIVISION / ROC MARCIANO / SUPASTITION - "Grown Ups" / "3xDOPE"

Canada duo First Division is heavily maketing their upcoming "The Critical Path Part 2" which you can add to the list of all dope albums being released on March 27. I just posted the albums immediate predecessor; the highly sick "The Critical Path 1", released as a clean  mini-album, was jut posted here on the post right below this one so be sure to check those nine bangers as well because these guys only deliver straight HEAT.

So far two singles have been released from the official project, the latest being the Roc Marciano and produer Beatwyse-assisted "Grown Ups" which brings a terrific job of combining the agressive boom bap hip-hop of the early-to-mid-'90s but of Fwcourse filled with the group's trademark headbanging but bleak and confrotantional beats and rhymes. Such is definitely the case with the latest Free Division single - "Grown Up" just as is the other single and the free street album. The digital maxi single includes "Grown Ups" in three versions - the main one, the radio edit, and the instrumental (unfortuntely no remix of original B-side, but it's still a rewind worty joint.

  

The earlier single was originally released about four days ago and is another rhythm heavy banger entitled "Three Times Dope" - a title that refers to the group going head-to-head with Supastition on the single. Just like the aforementioend joint, production is handled by BeatWize who once again comes through with a true head knocker. Don't sleep on any of these singles or the project in the post below. I doubt you'd be dissapointed so TURN IT UP!

[EP] FIRST DIVISION - "The Critical Path Pt. 1"

This slamming eight track EP went straight over my head when it was first released as a free download a few days ago, but I'm real glad I found it because this is exactly one of the many different types of hip-hop that I absolutely love with no holding back. First Division is an Ontario, Canada duo consisting of Shylow and Expertise, and besides Shylow's many DJ apperances on Marco Polo's album the duo also appeared on the stand-out cut "The Long & Winding Road" with Large Professor on Marco's immaculate "Newport Authority 2" (if you read my review you'll know that I hold that premix even higher than the more official "PA2: Director's Cut". On the "The Ciritcal Path Pt. 1" the duo gives an amazing performance both beat wise, lyrically and on the turntables - pretty much hip hop at it's finest. This is the pre-cursor to their upcoming official album "The Critical Path 2" which drops later this year. Scroll up a bit to find the two first singles from this album and a big shout out to this duo for making this incredible music available for free - if they are just pressing up this on vinyl, I'm sold!

FIRST DIVISION Ft. DJ Linx - "Life & Death" [prod. Marco Polo]

Being that Marco Polo not only recorded one, but two of the absolute illest album of last year, you can bet I was hyped when I saw his name attached to the latest single from Ontario duo First Division (consisting of Shylow and Expertise). And while it might not've been a stand-out on any of the aforementioned Marco "solo" projects, it's clearly a listen of refreshing dope and pure hip-ho. The cuts by DJ Linx adds a nice touch as always too. Lifted from First Division's free DJBooth sponosred "Critical Path Part One EP", out on January 21 (and yeah, you'll find it here on The Lost Tapes as soon as it drops).