An exceptionally skilled if criminally overlooked L.A. duo, Substance Abuse (Eso Tre and Subz) have been doing their thing since putting out their debut EP, Brand New Crime, in the late '90s. Several dope 12-inches followed, paving the way for their first full-length, released via KutMasta Kurt's Threshold Records. Unconcerned with gangster posturing or overt weirdness, 2006's Overproof is a compelling mix of humor, storytelling, bravado, introspection, and consistently tight beats, as well as collabos with some of the subterranean scene's key players, including Kool Keith (the single "Night on the Town"), Motion Man ("Check"), and MF DOOM ("Profitless Thoughts"). Influenced by the golden era without trying to ape it, S.A. deliver a great album that only seems to get better with time. Other highlights include "The Sickness," "Withdrawls, Pt. 2," and "Everyone's a Critic," featuring Rasco.