i've said it before and i'll say it again: keep tabs on Jneiro Jarel. that's my man right there. if you don't know him, you may want to go back to his 2005 debut Three Piece Puzzle on the Ropeadope label. straight heat, very reminiscent of Tribe Called Quest-era boom bap. the following year brought his instrumental banger (and my personal favorite album of 2006), Beat Journey, recorded under the name Dr. Who Dat? this year Jneiro introduces his new group, Shape of Broad Minds, which is himself and his main man Jaawaad. the group also includes several of Jarel's pseudonyms, including Dr. Who Dat?, rapper Panama Black, and singer Rocque Won. yeah, the Madlib comparisons have been non-stop, particularly when you consider that his MC skills take a back seat to his production, but the results are always interesting and the SBM project is no exception. this is definitely some deep underwater vibe, so get your feet wet with this five-song EP.

"Let's Go" is the first single featuring MF Doom. it's that saturday night space boogie steez, may take some getting used to for some (in which case, check the Dr. Who Dat? remix of this song - HOTNESS). "Electric Blue" is a great example of the nod to Tribe, because it almost feels a rhythmic parallel to "Electric Relaxation," except the lyrical mood isn't as lustful, but more infatuation. the JJ remix of this song adds some bump to the underwater current. "Love Continues" is a nice bonus, jazzy, spacey, and in the pocket. so if you dig Tribe, Slum Village, Madlib, Dudley Perkins, Georgia Anne Muldrow, you get the picture...cop this.

if the EP has you curious and you want to hear more, check some samples from the Craft Of The Lost Art album. Beat Journey was a very tough act to follow and while i think the MC/DJ/Producer was more controlled on Three Piece Puzzle, the SBM project is meant to be more experimental, more loose. with that said, some songs work better than others, but again...you won't be bored. so put on your scuba gear and deep sea dive for these joints especially: "beast from the east," "lullabanger," "there 4 me," "stiff robots & drunken horses," and "12c."

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