In the hip-hop pantheon, there have always been potent combos of one emcee and one producer: Eric B & Rakim, Premier & Guru, and Pete Rock & CL Smooth, to name a few. Though it's been a minute since we've seen such a diabolical duo, Purpose & Confidence are here to bring back that classic, and sorely missed, one-two punch. Purpose (known for his work with Tragic Allies) handles the microphone duties, delivering ultra-on-point lyricism track after track. Meanwhile, Confidence (who produced last year's excellent The Element of Surprise with Rashad) handles all the beats, concocting a devastatingly dope mix of crunchy drums, chopped samples, and rugged musicianship that perfectly complements the verses. For older heads who long for the good old days and younger cats unimpressed with modern rap's watered-down sounds, this is exactly what the doctor ordered. Undisputedly one of the year's best releases, this is untouchable from start to finish. Check out "Felony Findings," "Rep to the Death," "The Way That I Sound," and "Vision of Excellence," featuring Cormega and Estee Nack.