Secondary Protocol

Album Review

In 1999, the Lootpack's Soundpieces: Da Antidote set forth the crew's cure for whack MCs and non-believers. Four years later, they return with their Secondary Protocol — another demonstration of the group's collaborative skill in delivering their vision of hip-hop purity. This time, though, the crew supports fellow founding member Wildchild, who perpetrates his cutting rhymes in a solo setting. The original Lootpack are here, though: Madlib produces half the tracks and DJ Romes provides the cut, but Secondary Protocol also shows off the crew's unofficially expanded lineup as OH NO (Madlib's brother) produces half the tracks. True, this isn't technically a Lootpack record, but it tends to sound like one — Madlib's left-field production style continues to support a straightforward dialogue. On Secondary Protocol, though, Wildchild's relentless delivery carries most of the weight — and he's obviously up to the task; however, in retrospect, Da Antidote's strength was in Madlib's ability to lay down rhymes that brought the focus down to more relaxed territory, whereas on Secondary Protocol, things can get a bit hectic with Wildchild's constant barrage. With that said, this record is full of highlights. Tracks like "Kiana," "Knicknack 2002," "Bounce," and "Puttin' in Work" create a serious upbeat and positive vibe that prove that the Lootpack haven't gone anywhere.