Embedded

iTunes Review

Previously known as half of the Bay Area group The Frontline, Locksmith hails from Richmond, Calif., and has been making music since the late '90s. One of the few local groups that avoided the short-lived hyphy movement, Frontline dropped a few decent albums in the mid-‘00s before splitting up, leading to Locksmith's solo career. Though he's worked extensively with local legend E-A-Ski, Embedded finds Locksmith connecting with North Carolina producer Ski Beatz (Camp Lo, Jay-Z, and many others) for a short but sweet album overloaded with cinematic beats and razor-sharp wordplay. Lock's fiery, battle-tested flow and intricate, intellectual lyricism (he went to college at UC Berkeley) is on full display for all 12 tracks, with no guest rappers to distract from his on-point verses. Check out the moody, piano-laced "Look How I Shine," as well as the music industry attack anthems "Mr. Program Director" and "Attention Whore."