The latests release from Outerspace comes in the form of Jedi Mind Tricks Presents: Outerspace. This isn't really an album as it is full of released and unreleased material from the group. This is pretty much and appetizer for thier full length debut Blood and Ashes.

Outerspace is a North Philly underground hiphop duo consisting of Crypt the Warchild and Planetary. These two have been friends pretty much since birth and quickly found a common love for hip-hop while young. Back in 1998 they released a single through Superegular Recordings titled "We Lyve" An absolute banger of a song it was. One of my friends then told me to listen to that song, and I was like man who the hell is this. However after listening I didn't even care, I just knew I wanted more. With outlandish beats and such complex, scientific rhymes I was hooked on these cats. However I never followed up on my quest to find more Outerspace until now. Sure they are always featured on Jedi Mind Tricks joints as that Superegular bond is strong. I never even copped that Illegaliens EP that they dropped back in '99. Sh!t I don't know anyone who did. Only until now after listening to Visions of Ghandi by JMT again did I consider copping this joint.

1. Delerium(feat. Rich Medina) - N/A - Rich Medina gives some tight poetry to start it off. Over a nice smooth beat, he spits about different thinks effecting our lifes. He spits about the bullsh!t in politics, and things plaguing inner city youth.

2. Conspiracy Theory - $$$$$ - This starts off with a news broadcast of Nobel Prize winner fathers being forced to give semen samples. Crypt the Warchild opens it up, and the heat is on. Spittin venom about paying dues in the game then takes it deep on the introspective tip. Planetary spits some punchlines sprinkled with punchlines and metafores along with some introspective rhymes. The slow and somewhat distorted beat gives it that "Conspiracy Theory" feel to the track.

3. Third Rock - $$$$ - As soon as this hits in and Crypt starts spittin it sounds like some ATLien OutKast sh!t. Giving some tight introspective rhymes over this raw beat. He barely seems to take a breath as he continues to rap hard to the chorus. Planet takes it from the chorus is somewhat drops the ball. He gives us a good battle verse but it pail in comparison to Crypt's. In the third verse Crypt opens up and just gets dirty wit it. Spitting mind-boggling battle rhymes. The chorus is a little weak and takes from the song a bit though.

4. Fire in the Sky - $$$$1/4 - This song opens up with a brief broadcast emergency. The production that follow it as raw and grimy as it gets. Pounding bass and haunting sounds. Both Crypt and Planet go mad with the introspective rhymes with a touch of battle rap spitting flame after flame.

5. We Lyve - $$$$1/2 - As I previously stated this was the first single from Outerspace through Superegular Recordings. Crypt the Warchild spits some ish that will have you losing your mind. The fire he spits here will burn your eardrums and scar your brain, pure fiya! Planet once again does a good job but is straight out shined by Crypt. The song ends with some humorous rap/singing.

6. Danger Zone(feat. Baby Blak) - $$ - This starts out with a challenge being sent to a sh!t talkin fan saying these cats don't battle and they can go right out on South Street to knuckle. The beat on this joint is a bit jazzy but to a fault as it damn sure isn't fit as a hip-hop beat. Baby Blak opens it up and surprising to me he spits some pretty weak lyrics here. Crypt spits his worst couple of bars on this joint with a disjointed rhymes scheme that has him rhyming words like "grammer and managers"and it sounds a bit off. Planetary does a bit better showing love to the Philly underground scene and Philly in general, but even his reppin' the Illadelph can't save this one.

7. Dysfunqtional - $$$1/4 - This beat is also jazzy but more of a hip-hop fit and it is flaming hot. Warchild once again gives some uninspired lyrics and flow here. Planetary spits some sh!t letting you know he and Crypt aint to be eff'ed wit. Using some pretty tight similies he brings this otherwise "average punchline" track up to par.

8. Qrown Royal(feat. King Syze & Faezone) - $$$$ - Nice raw piano beat here which is perfect for each of these rappers aggressive flows. King Syze, Crypt the Warchild and Planetary all spit some pretty above average lyrics but the man who shines here is Faezone. He hits hard on the introspective tip mixed with some battles with a great use of vocabulary.

9. Front To Back(feat. King Syze & Destro) - $$$$1/4 - After an intro with two guys dissing each other the beat hits in. The beat here is nothing spectacular but these guys rip it nonetheless. Planetary takes it from the start and rips it to shreds. "Politically Incorrect, The verbs make you shake like turret/ syndrome Set the stage on fire, blowing your vet to dust/Burn your upper deck torch wit the arsenal/Flame right up, Planet put a torch to your article." King Syze also rips it up, as does Crypt. Destro who has the most distinguistable voice of these four also does a tight job but his "blood pits of sweat" and all of the bone snappage at the end of the song is mad violent. Still I like that crazy sh!t.

10. Grand Groove 2 - $$ - Kind of a throwback-to-the-future beat, as it seems old school, but doesn't? Anyway these guys spit some ish about people they have lost mixed with some street poetry, and obviously that isn't thier strong point as they waver back and forth and even though the message is thier the flame isn't and this is nothing more than a lukewarm song.

11. 151 - $$$$$ - Boston's 7L produces a phenomenal beat here helping Outerspace craft a underground anthem with 151. This is probably one of 7L's best. Both Crypt the Warchild and Planetary spit sickenin verses with just the right mesh of complex street rhymes with a touch of introspection, along with a few punches here and there to make one of, if not the best song on this album.

12. Divine Evil(feat. Chief Kamachi) - $$$$ - SAT-ONE produces this dark beat, but its kind of on the weaker side. However this Philly posse cut doesn't dissappoint lyrically. The Mic Messiah spits a tight verse but he obviously was saving himself for Cult Status, because it doesn't compare to the sh!t he spit on that album. Warchild and Planet also hit us with that hot ish, sending steel bars at the neck of fake emcee's in the hip-hop game. SAT-ONE redeems himself with an ill scratch at the end of the track.

They have finally touched down on the third rock, now it is time to show and prove. This group shows that they can carve thier own niche at times and then they seem like a fake JMT. Crypt can spit some ridiculous bars and has an unbelievable mic presence, while Planet is a little lacking in that department he can spit put together some venomous ish. This appetizer cd won't have you salivating but it will have you looking forward to Blood and Ashes and is a good incentive to copping it. The only real falw these two have is that they sometimes touch on too many areas. Like I stated on many joints, they mix the punchlines, battles and introspective lyrics all into one verse. Cramming like that will hold you down from making a true classic song. They need to pick and choose how they will deliver thier rhymes scheme, so they aren't hittin all areas at once. However the potential is there as is the skill, it's only a matter of time to see if they actually do it right with thier album.

3.9 Stars

Top 3 Songs
1. 151
2. Conspiracy Theory
3. Fire in the Sky
Honorable Mention(s) - Divine Evil

Note: Blood and Ashes is out Now...

Also Check Out
Chief Kamachi - Cult Status
The High & Mighty - The Highlight Zone
Brother Ali - Champion EP
Cunninlynguists - Southernunderground
Cali Agents - Head of the State


Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Hanging With Friends