Guest recruits hold their own with the formidable MC. A distinct old-school flavor creates a rich and nostalgic experience, especially on highlights like 'W.O.W.' and 'Rock It.' As veterans of hip-hop, PRhyme make their impressive pedigrees known, addressing the Lil Mumbles and Lil SoundClouds of the world with elder statesmen wisdom, not outright attacks, as heard on 'Everyday Struggle.' They get rightfully angry about the state of the world, with Royce assuming lyrical prophet and truth-teller status on 'Black History,' while maintaining a tough, braggadocious veneer on the breath-snatching '1 of the Hardest.' Royce's flow is something to behold, with layers of lyrics to pore over with repeated listens, revealing humor, pain, and everything in between. Combined with hard-hitting beats, old-school scratching, and a dizzying maze of dense rhymes, PRhyme 2 satisfies more than its predecessor and should please fans of Smoke DZA and Pete Rock's collaborative Don't Smoke Rock, Run the Jewels' more laid-back material, and the Dilated Peoples catalog.
Here, the pair focus on AntMan Wonder, a Philadelphia producer and composer, for their samples. On 2014's PRhyme, Royce and Preem sampled a single artist - soulman Adrian Younge - on a tight collection with a roster of high-profile guests. The sophomore outing from the dynamic duo of Royce da 5'9' and DJ Premier, PRhyme 2 maintains a similar formula to the debut installment while improving upon production and vitality.
