Cats & Dogs (Deluxe Version)

iTunes Review

Best known as one-third of Los Angeles hip-hop mainstays Dilated Peoples, Evidence has been putting out records since 1997 after growing up in Venice Beach, writing graffiti and learning the beatmaking ropes from next-door neighbor QD3. Outside of Dilated he’s also a formidable producer; on the solo tip he dropped The Weatherman LP in 2007 and The Layover EP the following year and has kept busy with mixtapes and instrumental projects. On Cats & Dogs, he delivers 20 rock-solid joints produced by some of the best in the business, including longtime homies Alchemist, Sid Roams, and DJ Babu, as well as DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, and Khrysis. Step Brothers (his new group with Al) shines on "James Hendrix"; Raekwon and Ras Kass join the fray on "The Red Carpet"; Queens superthugs Prodigy and Roc Marciano show up for "Fame"; and subterranean superstars Slug and Aesop Rock do their thing on "Late for the Sky." Ev's signature straightforward flow is in full effect, and it’s buoyed by strong beats and quality features throughout.