The transition of hip-hop from its golden era in the 1980s to its hardcore phase in the mid-to-late 1990s revolutionized the culture and propelled it further into the mainstream. Artists like Nas, DMX, The Notorious B.I.G., Wu-Tang Clan, and others told hard-hitting stories about growing up in poverty and weathering the inner-city streets.
A joint EP from two rappers from that game-changing era has been released, resurrecting the essence of that era for a new generation of fans. Styles P of The LOX and Mobb Deep’s Havoc have teamed up as Wreckage Manner, and their self-titled debut EP, which was released earlier this month, is all you’d expect from a collaboration between two hip-hop legends.
On Wreckage Manner, there’s no shortage of razor-sharp metaphors or head-nodding production, thanks to both veterans being lifelong fans of each other’s work and bringing out the best in one another.
“Havoc and the Ghost,” a slow burner that finds the two floating through the mesmerizing groove, would turn out to be that record. Styles claims that the production was so enticing that there was nothing he could do but record it when he first heard it.
The album, which was solely produced by Havoc, was originally intended to be a four-track EP, but the success of “Havoc and the Ghost” inspired Wreckage Manner to expand their debut to a full-length. With how crisp and precise Styles P and Havoc sound on the record, new listeners would never believe that they are both 47 years old.
The 30-minute record is a stark contrast to Wreckage Manner’s younger counterparts, who are more likely to release longer albums with quick-turn deluxe editions these days. There will be none of that with Styles and Havoc, who purposefully kept things short in order to keep fans wanting more.
While fans enjoy the new LP, Wreckage Manner has promised that a sequel will be released soon.
