(RUN)

In these days of jacked 80's samples and disco tracks, it's nice to finally hear some hip hop that takes me back to hip hop of the late 80's/early 90's. Ugly Duckling's debut LP "Fresh Mode" is very simple at it's basis, which makes if a very easy listen, and very FRESH to my ears. UD is made up of Andy Cooper, Dizzy Dustin, and their DJ Einstein.

This LP/EP starts of with UD's first single which most of you undergroud cats would have heard a couple years ago. "Fresh Mode" has a nice mellow, rolling baseline, with Ugly Duckling dropping his clear, simple, but thought invoking lyrics. "Get On This" is another mellow track with a jazzy bass under an old school break, with UD rhyming about their idea of real hip hop. "Einstein's Takin' Off" showcases the turtable skills of his DJ, over a nice key filled track.

On the flip, "Everybody C'mon" has an ill piano loop, with Einstein breaking it down on the cuts half way through. The hook uses some old "na na na na" sample from an old soul track, with UD on the add libs. Another real nice track, and a little more upbeat. On "Do You Know What I'm Sayin'" these cats take a whole series of line's from hip hop classics, and put their own twist on them. Thus...all of the real headz will surely "know what their sayin'." "Everything's Alright" flips Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Summertime" sample in their own way.

All in all, this album is hella tight. A nice flash back to the old school, while adding a bit of a modern twist. Tight production, fun lyrics, an overall nice vibe make this album a must get. To say it in one word...............FRESH!!!

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