SonGodSuns

For Over the Counter Culture, 2Mex’s recently-released album under the moniker of SonGodSuns, 2Mex has opted for a release heavy on the emo rap with a wide variety of ballads that touch on the subject of love. The best of these love songs is an update of the previously released "I Didn’t Mean to Touch Your Hand,” which is much improved with DJ Khalil’s emotionally powerful beat that better suits the lyrics, and makes this "last desperate attempt” remix a highlight of the album. On the other end of the spectrum, DJ Khalil also contributes a banging big beat for another album highlight, "Big Beat Walkthrough,” where Jean Grae outshines 2Mex on his own album; but their second collaboration, "Breath of a Salesman,” doesn’t stand out nearly as much. "SonGodSuns at Night,” which interpolates the chorus to Corey Hart’s "Sunglasses at Night,” rocks with a nice symphonic beat from Life Rexall of the Shapeshifters, and "Minors Into Fire,” featuring Busdriver, is also impressive thanks to Omid’s dance club-friendly thumping drums and arcade blips. Unfortunately, 2Mex comes off a little sloppy over the title track, arguably the album’s best beat courtesy of Babu’s ’70s-style blaxploitation guitar and old school vocal sample, resulting in a funky groove that kills, but that could have been so much more. Over the Counter Culture may not be a perfect album, but there’s enough quality to make it enjoyable.