OK Cobra

"Delirium Tremens" may be the name of a Belgian beer made famous by the pink elephant mascot that decorates their bottles ― referenced by OK Cobra in their cover art ― but more importantly, "delirium tremens" is the term for the severe effects of alcohol withdrawal, more commonly called the DTs. Delirium Tremens, the album, plays out like the withdrawal symptoms that follow a long binge, with a series of emotional purges in the form of personal songs about loss, fatherhood, writer's block, being a bartender and the like revealing rapper Fritz the Cat's real world alter ego, Ryan Somers. Fritz also breaks out some dark humour, drops a few battle raps and does a pretty faithful cover of MC 900 Ft. Jesus's classic "The City Sleeps." Recordface, the production/DJ half of the duo, introduces himself by opening with an old school cut-and-scratch intro over a banging instrumental, but for much of the album he provides production that's layered, evolving and a perfect backdrop for Fritz's introspective lyrics. There are also a few flirtations with up-tempo, double-time drums, the occasional dark synth bass line and an emo use of Edie Brickell's "Circle" for "I Quit (I Give Up)." Delirium Tremens isn't the happiest hip-hop record but it's an honest portrayal of a regular Joe bartender trying to make it as a rapper. And having made it to album number two, Delirium Tremens is also a little ray of sunshine for OK Cobra.