Eyez On The Prize (Not Really) is a 5 track project about 10 minutes and 45 seconds in length. It is brief but it packs a punch from the moment you hit the play button.  Starting with “Don’t Ask”, a bouncy 90s-styled beat with clunky drums, glitchy horn samples and subtle vocal chops that is reminiscent of the type of tracks House Of Pain and Lords Of The Underground could deliver. Next is the solemn “Hopeful”, a laidback piano-driven beat with sparsely arranged punchy drums and brooding string samples to match. He doesn’t pull many changes on this one but the track has an easy-listening vibe.

“Meet Me At The Hoops”  has that throwback 90s bluesy feel that was the essence of the golden era of hip-hop. The dusty guitar licks are prominent while the hushed horns soar to a crescendo before coming together like peas in a pod over the crunchy drum grooves. He then layers the track with an NBA game commentary. The fun continues with “Ill Gotten Gains”  with its urgent energy comprising electric guitar licks, muddy bassline, and distorted textures underpinned by plucky drums. The project closes out with “The Run Around”, a playful and off-beat beat with off-center grooves, a lazy horn sample with woozy textures and thick basslines to form the thick foundations.

There’s always something new from District Lost and Eyez On The Prize (Not Really), doesn’t disappoint at all.