Product Review
Boot Camp Clik's Heltah Skeltah turn out willfully low-tech, floss-free music. The duo's philosophy ("Undastand / To be the man ain't even in the plan") is sort of a corner-dweller's adaptation of Tribe's credo ("beats, rhymes & grime"), with a hefty dose of weed and some potential violence thrown in for good measure. Noted underground producers, including Evil Dee, Mr. Walt, and the Alkaholiks' very own E-Swift, help give form to the album's snaky vibe, which progresses under palpable clouds of blunt smoke. Ruc and Roc's lyrics are not overly complex, centering on cipher battles ("Clan's, Posse's, Crew's & Clik's"), turf wars ("Grate Unknown"), and an amusingly wack attempt at a booty call ("Getting' Ass, Getting' Ass"). The criminally underrated Vinia Mojica, also heard gracing Common's hipster classic, Like Water for Chocolate gets some run here, singing the hook on "Therapy." --Rebecca Levine

Back in 96 hip hop was beginning to change. 1990-95 NYC was strong and emcees had to bring major skills & beats to get on. But now Death Row and Bad Boy were going over the top and things were shifting over to commercialised styles just to shift units. The BCC weren't going in for all this with 'Nocturnal', the debut album by the natty dread wearing duo of Heltah Skeltah. These guys build on the foundation BCC created with the debut albums by Black Moon and Smif-N-Wessun, and although its not a classic like those two albums, it is pure hip hop and 100% street. 'Nocturnal' is what you would call a beats & rhymes album. As with most BCC the emcees are gruff sounding, and the beats are rugged. The whole album seems clouded by a heavy mist of weed smoke, and the pair sound blunted when trading rhymes. (And yeah I dig the references to Lennox Lewis) This is a near-classic album that has looked better & better in time with the decline of hip hop. After this the Beatminerz didn't produce as much for BCC and things began to decline. If your into real hip hop and liked anything with the BCC logo on it, you need to check this album out. A Bud-Smokers Essential.