A golden-era favorite who continues to deliver impressive new music, New York legend and Diggin in the Crates representative OC is back with another outstanding collabo album (following his recent project Oasis with AG). This time around, he hooks up with Apollo Brown, a Michigan-based producer who's been bubbling up over the last few years, signed to Mello Music, and working with acts like Big Pooh, Oddisee, Boog Brown, Black Milk, and MED, among others. His classically minded beat style perfectly complements OC's bold and wordy flow, overflowing with chunky beats and soulful, midtempo samples. Devoid of guest appearances, Trophies is a near-perfect example of the recently resurgent one-rapper/one-producer formula. It's also proof positive that OC hasn't lost a step, more than 20 years after his debut. Whether you're an old-school D.I.T.C. fan or just down with quality storytelling and dope, loop-driven tracks, this comes highly recommended. Check out "The Formula," "Options," "The Pursuit," and "Caught Up."
