Oh No

Had the fact not been announced that SoCal beat wizard Oh No's latest set would be one of previously unreleased instrumentals, with a few hot guests along for the ride, I doubt anyone would have noticed a difference, as Disrupted Ads is as solid and cohesive as any of his other efforts. Structured loosely around a retro, infomercial-styled cigarette ad, the record offers up a well-rounded collection of quick musical dashes from across the producer's challenging creative spectrum. The moody, marching futurism and dystopic clatter of "Trapped In" and "Boom" are nicely balanced by the calmingly cinematic "Drifters," while the snapping percussive crunch and warbly, videogame synths of "Creepers" ensure heads have something to nod about. Similarly, well-placed vocal turns, for the most part, are far from throwaway raps, with feisty females Rhapsody and Psalm One burning the hottest, and the always dependable pairing of Dudley Perkins and Georgia Anne Muldrow closing things out with characteristically smooth tones and thoughtful words. With Disrupted Ads, Oh No manages consistency, even when cleaning out the vaults.