This is the 8th full-length studio LP from Oakland, California emcee ST Spittin. Emerging from his first mixtapes Lighters & Ink Pens next door 2nd impression & Open seasonhe would go on to expand his discography by releasing 3 albums Morning show, Action! & All in a day's workfollowed by a trilogy of EPs Lucky 6, When the ball drops & Converted before 4th LP, EP & mixtape Antenna!, Don't judge me & Pedicure respectively. We would have a sequel later Antenna! & Pedicure as his next 2 albums, Cool water for the last & Summer madness is his 5th EP. Still, I was interested to hear Risk & Reward since Golden State Warriors deejay DJ D Sharp was behind the boards for the whole thing.
The title track is a jazzy trap opener that lets you be all about it, while “Seat at the Table” shifts gears with its boom bap instrumental feel like she's walking the red carpet to get what they want all the others. “Pesos” featuring Stunnaman02 has a cloudier vibe so they can both say they can't rest since they have cake to make, but then “God in the Room” featuring Dustin Sharpe and Mani Draper mixes some kicks and snares with strings admitting Big G was at work when they wrote this.
“Profile Pics” brings a more realistic blast talking about how it's time for him to make a new change after returning to work shortly before “Maximize” featuring HBK CJ & Khyenci dives into a pop rap direction advising to maximize your energy . “It's Alright” featuring Ian Kelly incorporates shimmering piano chords trying to tell her that something is better than nothing leading into the sumptuous boom bap cut “Flashes” talking about seeing the greatness within him shine.
Champ Green & D. Bledsoe join ST on “Each One, Teach One” jumping over a symphonic sample admitting he bought too much time to spend more while “Wide Awoke” takes it back to the basement bending organically that he knows about a fact one is inspired every time he is on the microphone. Finally to round out the album, “What Ya Call That???” it happens to be a soulful ode to those who tell them how they are.
Over a decade in the game & ST. Spittin' celebrated Steph Curry's birthday by presenting the most well-crafted body of work of his career thus far. DJ D Sharp continues to reveal himself as one of the best beatsmiths in the Bay Area right now as his production here varies in sound and we get a taste of the Oakland Emcee at his most gritty, confident, playful and honest all in 1.
Rating: 8/10
