Significantly, La Coka Nostra’s long-time-coming full-length debut
is not billed as a House of Pain reunion, even though the
hip-hop supergroup features all three House members — Everlast,
Danny Boy and DJ Lethal. Most of the tracks sound more like an
unusually fun Cypress Hill album, thanks in part to cameos by Hill MCs
B-Real and Sen Dog, who round out a roster that also includes Snoop
Dogg, Bun B and full-time members Ill Bill and Slaine. Like any crowded
party, it has its share of macho posturing. Most of the cuts are
Scarface hellrides, dusted with enough pharmaceuticals to edge
an unhinged mind into the paranoid-about-black-helicopters territory.
On his big-stage debut, Boston rapper Slaine spits in a nimble cadence,
immediately establishing himself as one of the great white rhymers.
When they’re not blasting Desert Eagles or referencing metal bands, the
hustlers sneak in tender moments and positive messages. The
rock-country-blues of “Cousin of Death” and rap power-ballad “The
Stain” could be Everlast solo tracks. Regardless of which member piques
your attention, the album will live up to its name. — D.X.
Ferris
This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2009.
