Czarface: Every Hero Needs A Villain (Vinyl 2xLP)

Sophomore release from the acclaimed trio of Inspectah Deck (Wu-Tang Clan) And 7L & Esoteric. Features MF Doom, GZA, Method Man, Large Professor, Juju Of The Beatnuts, Ra The Rugged Man, & Meyhem Lauren. CZARFACE – Wu-Tang founding MC Inspectah Deck and veteran Boston duo 7L & Esoteraeroic – isn’t concerned with the glitz and the B.S. that modern consumer culture is pushing.

In 2013, the trio appeared relatively unassumingly with their self-titled debut, which was chiefly produced by DJ 7L and included guests ranging from Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna to Vinnie Paz, Action Bronson and Roc Marciano. The soon-to-be acclaimed group found out quickly that there was a groundswell of hip-hop fanatics thirsting for the lunchpail, lyrics-aboveall-else rap they fell in love with in the ‘90s. Several pressings of the album on CD, 2-LP and even cassette later, they are back and ready to up the ante. This time around the group is the same, but it’s fair to say that all three men have stepped up their game.

Best of all, it is friendly camaraderie, based around a loose theme of renegade mutant MC talents running wild. DJ 7L explains, “All three of us are influenced by comics, sci-fi movies, TV, wrestling. Czarface encompasses all of that, and it helps with the visuals as well.”

On the production side, 7L shows yet again – as he did with the group’s debut – that he remains a formidable yet underappreciated musical force, constantly providing hard, funky and alternatingly ominous backdrops for the assembled MCs to use as lyrical luge paths. Black vinyl repress.

1. Don The Armor
2. Czartacus
3. Lumber Jack Match
4. Nightcrawler
5. World Premier
6. The Great (Czar Guitar)
7. Red Alert
8. Junkyard Dogs
9. Sgt Slaughter
10. When Gods Go Mad
11. Ka-Bang!
12. Deadly Class
13. Escape From Czarkham Asylum
14. Sinister
15. Good Villains Go Last