Fair Exchange No Robbery
Critic Score
Based on 1 review
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CRITIC REVIEWS
88
They make a natural pairing, embracing their strengths but clearly willing to mold their work into stranger shapes. Fair Exchange is a high-water mark in both their careers, as bruising as it is beautiful.
2mo
An unexpected dry listen... Considering the names involved, I expected this project to be great. But kinda like the Roc/Alch collab album, this is another instance of two hip-hop mavens coming together for a record where a large chunk of the material is second rate compared to their past highlights.
Two of the most reliable names in underground hip-hop linking up was always going to be great. Neither Boldy nor Craven step outside of their comfort zone but, when the result is this good, it really doesn't matter. I wish the 'Death & Taxes' single was on here but apart from that, this is enough to tide me over until Boldy's next album (hopefully produced by either J Dilla or Futurewave).
Favourite Tracks: Straight & Tall, Stuck In Traffic, Scrabble, Town & Country, Designer ... read more
Not bad! But Boldy has definitely risen the standard for himself with his early 2020s work, so solid stuff like this project ends up feeling a bit underwhelming compared to his Alchemist stuff. But a pleasant, non-rushed project regardless. Maybe a little too much drumless?
Was hoping this would be my favorite Boldy project of the year because I've been loving Craven's production lately, but even if it doesn't meet those expectations it continues both of their consistently solid runs.
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Track List
| 1 | Straight & Tall 3:58 | 93 |
| 2 | Stuck in Traffic 3:11 | 84 |
| 3 | Scrabble 3:24 | 88 |
| 4 | Town & Country 4:14 | 88 |
| 5 | 0 Tre Nine 3:12 feat. Gue Wop | 84 |
| 6 | Monterey Jack 4:46 | 84 |
| 7 | Designer Drugs 3:31 | 89 |
| 8 | Six Toes 3:30 | 82 |
| 9 | You Ain't No Menace 3:14 | 84 |
| 10 | Power Nap 3:19 | 91 |
Total Length: 36 minutes
Year End Lists
| #18 | / | Passion of the Weiss |
| #45 | / | The FADER |
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1mo
this is absolutely fire, might be one of my favorite new Boldy projects, but that insanely unnecessary f-slur really bothers me
3mo
town & country and Straight & Tall my favorites so far
beat selection and sampling are so good
beat selection and sampling are so good
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Added on: July 4, 2022