Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

The third album from New York-based hip-hop artist Paul Russell gets off to a technically impressive start with some uncharacteristic fast rapping sitting on top of a gritty trap beat on "Kimbo Slice" - one of two tracks from 'Once In A Dry Season' that currently feature on the xRhythms playlist. Before long though, things settle down to less striking fare with repetitive minimal grooves backing the artist formerly known as Paulitics' lethargic and monotonous delivery - quite often sounding as though the man has just got out of bed - before a plethora of guest acts step in around the half way mark to pep up proceedings. Amongst them are Breekay, Kasairi, Ruslan and Jon Keith and this collaborative approach seems to bring out the best in Russell and ensures that his latest release goes out with a controlled bang rather than a disappointing fizzle. Russell's relationship with God underpins everything he produces with the considered "Good Things" finding him relaying his fears to his heavenly father before, in a neat twist, getting a powerful reply from on high in the last verse. Near the end, Russell lets his hair down with the lighthearted "Kalamazoo" - the other track from this release to feature on the xRhythms playlist and one that boasts an appearance from TROSSTHEGIANT - and other numbers of this ilk would have made for a much more interesting and fulfilling offering from this nonetheless talented rapper.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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