Vulture's Wisdom Volume One

iTunes Review

Best known for his work as a member of Souls of Mischief and The Hieroglyphics collective, Oakland emcee Opio has been cranking out dope hip-hop for some 20 years now. He's dropped solo joints in the past (the Masterpiece Theater mixtape and Triangulation Station); though both were great, few outside of Hiero's cultlike following were hip to them. On Vulture's Wisdom Vol. 1, he teams with under-recognized Bay Area producer The Architect (who has also cooked up beats for Planet Asia, Rasco, and Encore, among others). The result is a fantastic 15-track album loaded with funk-laden neck-breakers. Overflowing with intricately clever wordplay that flaunts an ideal mix of rewindable punchlines and flamboyant bravado, this is true lyricism the way it should be done. Del the Funky Homosapien and Guilty Simpson join the party on "Superfly," but for the most part it's all Op and Arch, and they impress at every turn. "On the Outside Looking In," "With or Without You," and "The Prize" are highlights.