There’s a point where you just stop caring about certain projects. Detox crossed that threshold a long time ago, and last spring, after narrowly missing it’s most recent intended drop date, 24HKS joined it’s ranks. (Funny how both projects involve legendary producers).

While Dre’s perpetual delays are undoubtedly caused by an almost OCD-like level of perfectionism, the pushbacks in Ski’s case seem to mostly be due to industry politics. It’s been almost a year since the much buzzed-about “Taxi,” featuring Mos Def, hit the blogs. Ten months later, only it’s ghostly instrumental remains on the final album. The same goes for “Cream Of the Planet,” as well as Mos’ verse from the all-star lineup of “Prowler 2.” The material that we’re left with is torn between the virtuosic jazz-inspired production that has helped brand the sound of DD172, and an uncharacteristic, throwback rock-hop fusion that would have you believe that Ski has been under the tutelage of Rick Rubin in recent months. If this album was a sandwich, the meat of it would be tracks like The Cool Kids’ “Do It Big!!,” Tabi Bonney’s “Not Like Me” and Stalley’s self-titled “S.T.A.L.L.E.Y” — all of which deliver standard braggadocio over strikingly similar drawn out basslines and overpowering kicks and snares.

In between all of this, you have Curren$y pouring his typically slick bars over the contrastingly smooth keyboards and horns of tracks like “Scaling the Building,” as well as the album opening “Nothing But Us.” You’ve got Jay Electronica and his “black-dragon rap” blazing a trail of devastation through the heavy guitar riff of the aforementioned “Prowler 2.” And you’ve got the two best beats on the album tacked carlessly onto the end as an afterthought,  leaving you scratching your head as to where exactly Ski might have thought he was going with this project.

The DD172 studio has come to be known as “the dojo” — a place where elite MCs can hone their skills over top-notch production. With it’s truncated tracklist and abundance of mediocre party material, you wouldn’t really know this from listening to 24 Hour Karate School. Ironically enough, the particular elite MC that thought up the album title seems to be missing from it. Go figure.

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