These boys are bad!! They've continued to refine their sound and production skills, write great tunes, musically give props to their predecessors rather than name drop, and play like it ain't no tomorrow.

On "Goldigger",listen to the transition from the main song, which is a classic MC loping groove (i.e. "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes), "This Day, This Minute, Right Now, and "What Kind of Man Would I Be?") to the extra layers of funk for the "introduction" of the band members, with its dope syncopated hits as part of the synth line from the original groove is repeated.

On "Back and Forth", MC pays homage without going out "Diddy" sytle. Stevie's "Pastime Paradise" is referenced as well as Hendrix's "Power of Love". However, all of this occurs over a groove which is slammin' and yet has a hint of dissonance throughout. Prince's "Something In the Water (Does Not Compute" is also referenced in passing on "Wish I Could Love You"

Of course, no MC release would be right without a few good ballads. E-Life contains "Nothing Left to Say" (which is receiving a good amount of radio play here in the Bay Area), as well as "Right Here" are already classic MC ballads.

As with has been the case with some of MC's latest releases, you may feel that the disc is only OK. But after repeated listenings, your mind may change, as MC takes you on a new journey.