ID and Sleeper

Hip-hop has constantly struggled to find the perfect balance between DJ and MC, and such is the challenge for ID and Sleeper. Part of the new breed of underground acts made popular by labels such as Anticon and Def Jux, this Lawrence duo tosses bitches and Bentleys to the wayside for political introspection without tipping the soapbox. The concept might not be groundbreaking anymore, but DJ Sleeper manages to keep Displacement fresh with gritty, lo-fidelity arrangements that stick with listeners afterward like a truck-stop Thanksgiving dinner. Where the album falls short is in that DJ-MC balance. Sleeper’s aggressive blend of hip-hop, electronic and industrial beats tends to overpower ID’s vocals throughout much of this debut, requiring effort to take it all in. Having a little patience isn’t such a bad thing, though.