Mathematik

It’s been about five years since Toronto-based MC Mathematik dropped his CD Ecology on the now defunct Beat Factory label. Since then that record has become an elusively rare but essential Canadian b-boy document and until now, Mathematik has maintained a rather low profile, evidently holed up in the lab. On first impression it’s like Mathematik hasn’t been away. His rhymes explore much of the spiritually inclined milieu of his past material with his inimitably insistent delivery riding high atop sparse production. "If It Isn’t” is a perfect example, showcasing Math explaining his devotion to MCing over minimalist boom-bap, intermittently seasoned by keys and a playful reinterpretation of New Edition’s "If It Isn’t Love.” But Mathematik has also added a few new wrinkles to his formula. While he still performs his own scratches and gets production from his long-time associates Down to Erf, he’s also brought in the likes of veteran Toronto beat merchants DJ Serious, Mr. Attic and Saukrates to provide sonic assistance and variance. Accordingly, Mathematik stretches past his usual comfort zone putting his own stamp on chipmunk soul ("The Righteous”) double-time rhyme schemes ("Who’s Wit Me”) and hyper soundscapes ("Attack”) while managing not to sacrifice his lyrical content. It’s a testament to the growth of Mathematik’s methodical and thought-provoking persona that he can flex these styles without losing his identity, one that more home-grown heads would do well to discover.