Dynamic Doomtree duo Lazerbeak and Mike Mictlan come together to form Hand Over Fist, with Beak on the beats and Mike on the rhymes. Not knowing much about Doomtree artists, this album acts as a perfect intro to the label and the sound of their artists.

Mike Mictlan’s raps has some essence of Def Jukie’s Cage and El-P, but he still holds something true to himself. I don’t know if I would go as far as calling it originality, but it isn’t horrible, either. “Clam Casino” opens with “Zero cool still Zulu in grape Zubas Zab Juda who jab ya fat buddah grade schooler cooler than later bloomers in faded suede Pumas.” Now…sure, the rhyme scheme to that could be seen by some as “impressive” or “original,” but it comes off a little cluttered and thoughtless: as if Mictlan was focusing too hard on the rhymes and less on what they actually meant. But this isn’t the case throughout all his lyrics…some are on point and more sensical.

The production from Lazerbeak is different, very 70s and rock influenced, but it is just a little too much. “Northstarr” has some great scratching and an interesting drum beat, but this is about as far as the production goes: interesting, but nothing eye opening. The whole record really just sounded like a Definitive Jux rip-off, and we all know there is enough Def Jux to go around, Hand Over Fist seems a little excessive.

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