Dojo

While today’s hip-hop is supposedly all about collaborations, a lot of performers who share tracks don’t even record their contributions at the same time or place, much less work together on a shared vision. In that sense, Dojo is a throwback — a collective in which artists truly combine forces.

Analog Suspect fills the sensei role on Duality, with Selecta Roswell holding the spotlight on the strength of her sharp wordplay and a verbal style that encompasses rapid-paced syllable twisting (“Frame of Mind”) and impassioned spitting (“Kali’s Revenge”). As for the music, it draws upon Asian archetypes that will remind some listeners of a certain old-school rap Clan. Yet the tracks sport plenty of fresh details, not to mention diverting beats from the likes of Le Parasite and DJ Trauma, whose concluding remix of “Actions Speak Louder” definitely makes itself heard.

Duality‘s intro admits to “a slight case of déjà vu.” But the time-travel trip is well worth taking.