Metaphorical Music

Some of the most beautiful jazz-oriented hip hop out there, because of how it incorporates much smoother and more lush jazz elements than most hip hop projects of its kind.

It gets rid of the grittier sound often associated with it, in exchange for something a lot more light and laid-back. As a result, this album and Nujabes' style ends up sounding quite vibrant and "artsy" compared to other hip hop producers at the time.

While I feel that some of the tracks are hindered by slightly annoying or uninteresting instrumentation, as well as some cringeworthy raps (mainly Substantial battle rapping on 'Think Different'), I mostly adore this album.

'Latitude (Remix)' is easily my favorite track, because of its psychedelic ambience and Five Deez providing the best rapping on the album. 'Beat Laments the World' (a precursor to 'Shiki no Uta' from Samurai Champloo) is a phenomenal breakbeat track with a beautiful piano keys and a flute(?) that lives in my head rent-free.

A very solid debut.