L.E.$. “Settle 4 LE$ Vol. 2″

It’s always an interesting process for me of discovering an artist and then riding for said artist. You could come out with that dope as a brand new talent and I’ll put it on, dig it with nothing foul to say, and leave it looking forward to the next one. By the time the next one comes all I can do is look at your new project weary, convinced it’s full of a different sound I couldn’t possibly be into. It’s irrational and pretty silly. But it happens.

So was the case with L.E.$. His 2010 tape A Beautiful Struggle got rocked enough, I even kept a cut off it for session soundtrack purposes. Disregarding my previously positive experiences with the Houston rapper, I sat on his latest tape Settle 4 LE$ Vol. 2 until endorsements from Julie and these visuals crossed my eye.

“3rd Coastin’” is great. Having grown up on the West coast, their is a certain vibe that just works well when riding along a coast line. L.E.$., Killa Kyleon and Paul Wall link up on this breezy Cardo beat to give you just that. Add to it the choice drum kit and you have an ill southern fried 101 cruising tune. Before you consider killing the song before Mr. Wall’s third verse, know that dude doesn’t sluff, comparing his legendary paint status to that of Shaq along with an assortment of boasts designed to let you know you can’t doubt him.

The mood caught here is maintained throughout the tape. L.E.$. crafts a melodic, southern smokers symphony. His flow hints at his Texas heritage, but the beats and messages drive that point home harder.

The internet is up in arms for ASAP these days, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Houston hiphop is alive and well. You will hear honest screw tributes, Mr. Rogers crafts a brilliant instrumental interlude that could probably never see the light of day via any kind of official release. And at the forefront of Settle 4 LE$ Vol. 2 is it’s star L.E.$.. While he did nothing to offend on his previous release, he also did nothing to make me remember him. Here he shows off a unified focus and a cocky flow that is fun and exciting. I won’t sleep on Volume 3.

Download the projet here.