AMG Review of Tall, Dark & Handcuffed

John Bush
All Music Guide

With all the attitude of previous releases but a completely different focus this time, Cex decided to make Tall, Dark & Handcuffed an homage to the golden age of hip-hop. Surprisingly, he proves as familiar with and amenable to Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em as he was to Incunabula. Recalling age-old rappers from Rakim to Kool Keith to Big Daddy Kane, Cex plays the cutting cad on sexed-up dis tracks like "One Cex" and "Gigolo Knights," with plenty of help from friends to make these into posse tracks. The production values are keen and perfectly in line with East Coast rap circa 1989, while Cex proves himself as solid a rapper as he is a producer.