Nocturnal

by Leo Stanley Heltah Skeltah is comprised of MCs Ruck and Rock, two members of the loose-knit East Coast congregation Boot Camp Clik. The duo's debut establishes the crew as one of the most powerful members of the Clik, both in terms of technique and production. Most of Nocturnal is straight-ahead East Coast gangsta rap with layered soundscapes, and even if these soundscapes are seamlessly crafted, they are only there as a backdrop -- the main intent of the entire album is to showcase the talents of Ruck and Rock, and do they ever display their talents. Throughout the album, Ruck and Rock create a series of intertwining rhymes that are lyrical, hard, and insightful. Naturally, there are some moments that are little too predictable for comfort, but by and large, Nocturnal is first-rate mid-'90s hip-hop.