In 1999,
the Lootpack's Soundpieces: Da Antidote set forth the crew's cure for whack MCs and non-believers. Four years later, they return with their Secondary Protocol -- another demonstration of the group's collaborative skill in delivering their vision of hip-hop purity. This time, though, the crew supports fellow founding member
Wildchild, who perpetrates his cutting rhymes in a solo setting. The original
Lootpack are here, though:
Madlib produces half the tracks and
DJ Romes provides the cut, but Secondary Protocol also shows off the crew's unofficially expanded lineup as
OH NO (
Madlib's brother) produces half the tracks. True, this isn't technically a
Lootpack record, but it tends to sound like one --
Madlib's left-field production style continues to support a straightforward dialogue. On Secondary Protocol, though,
Wildchild's relentless delivery carries most of the weight -- and he's obviously up to the task; however, in retrospect, Da Antidote's strength was in
Madlib's ability to lay down rhymes that brought the focus down to more relaxed territory, whereas on Secondary Protocol, things can get a bit hectic with
Wildchild's constant barrage. With that said, this record is full of highlights. Tracks like "Kiana," "Knicknack 2002," "Bounce," and "Puttin' in Work" create a serious upbeat and positive vibe that prove that
the Lootpack haven't gone anywhere. ~ Sam Samuelson