The Anticon collective, now based in Oakland, have become a ubiquitous presence in underground hip hop circles thanks to their novel fusions of liberal politics, surrealism, navel-gazing and leftfield production. For newcomers, this second album by founder member Sole is a good entry point. Save a neat cameo from a demo-toting God, Selling Live Water avoids the self-conscious whimsy of some Anticon projects, since Sole is vicious more than introspective, referencing Ice-T and Noam Chomsky as well as Watership Down. A worthy. West Coast counterpart to El-P’s superb Fantastic Damage.
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