Eclectic producer and rapper Hezekiah is one of Philly’s premier underground beat-makers (J-Live, Zap Mama, Bahamadia, Mr. Complex, Pharoahe Monch , Bilal, The Roots, Redman, Jill Scott and Musiq Soulchild.) He’s known for his conscious rap, and the beautiful Hurry Up and Wait from 2005 set the standard high. He’s dealt with label issues throughout the 2000s, and with his third album Conscious Porn, Hezekiah creates a wild, no limits, I don’t give a f**k concept album. I guess the concept is double standards. The underground favorite and former roadie for The Roots might be giving his last shot as an artist, so you better pay attention.

It starts off with an interesting song called “She Male” produced by IMAKEMADBEATS, and right from the start you know that this isn’t your typical backpacker album. Funny lyrics, deep bass and a flawless flow make you curious for the following tracks. “Corn Bread” featuring D.R.E.S. tha BEATnik is gritty and funky tune, with James Brown’s dusty old sample “Blues and Pants”. He’s not inventing the wheel here, but he keeps it fun and entertaining. It’s followed by the soulful “If This World Were Mine,” featuring Raheem DeVaughn, a nice version of Luther Vandross’s song with Cheryl Lynn. The Clinic featuring Ishe is a beautiful and melancholic song with deep lyrics about the consequences about of being promiscuous, all backed by a simple yet rich percussive production. The up-tempo “Hold It Now” with Peedi Crakk is an Outkast-ish, 60’s vibe song that will get the dance floor packed. “Fired Up” featuring Talib Kweli and Bahamadia is the dark, old-school east coast track on the album, with dark bumping beats and cold claps. Last track on the album and the highlight is “What Kind Of Cool”. It features velvet-voiced cult hero Cody Chestnutt belting out “What kind of cool will we think of next to hide behind?”, and it makes you hope for a follow up to The Headphone Masterpiece.

The album is filled with skits, that unfortunately aren’t witty, and instead of making it feel lose and less serious, it feels more like a mixtape. He tries so hard to be progressive and more aggressive, but the production is often busy and fractured, and it’s hard getting a serious message through humor. The album as a whole feels messy, but the strength of the individual tracks offers high quality.

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