The Kozmonautz are an MC/producer duo from Los Angeles, California consisting of Key Kool & DJ Rhettmatic. Making their eponymous debut in the summer of 1995, they would both go on to form the Visionaries with 2Mex alongside LMNO & another duo called Writer’s Block comprised of Dannu & Lord Zen putting out 5 full-lengths within the next 3 decades. However to commemorate the anniversary of their introductory LP over the summer, the Kozmonautz are running it back for an official sophomore effort.
After the “Big Bang 2” intro, the title track opens up by talking about livin’ life at ridiculous speed on top of sending empathic energy towards their people & presenting the truth whereas “Yes Yes Y’all” takes the boom bap route instrumentally representing all 4 elements of hip hop culture. “Listen to This” works in a funkier beat making way for Key Kool to drop a couple verses in Japanese prior to “Reconcentrated 2” talking about history repeating itself if we don’t learn from the past & teach it to the youth.
“Legacy” incorporates a woodwind to live life with integrity & maintain a pedigree taken from the blood of samurai just before the 2nd & final single “Quite Unique” jumps on top of this funky ass beat to talk about both of them speaking with their hands in dangerous ways. “Down with Us” by the Visionaries gives a taste of what’s to come from their upcoming 6th album in 2026 staying fly as fuck & come from Up Above while “Better World” finds the Kozmonautz reflecting on the current state of things whether it he politicians abusing their power & children playing with iPads rather than going outside.
Maintaining a boom bap vibe, the song “Sureshot” talking about always rockin’ stages whenever tbh hit the scene while the Key Kool solo cut “Catchin’ U Off Guard” produced by Kutmasta Kurt wraps up this Full Circle moment explaining that he & Rhettmatic don’t have anything to prove since they’re a couple of b-boys who have genuine respect for the culture in contrast to all of these mainstream record labels exploiting the art form in addition to the wankstas who think they be hot shit & finally the wannabe star acting larger than they really are.
These guys’ eponymous debut remains amongst the most slept-on west coast hip hop albums ever made filled with consciously abstract & hardcore lyricism flowing over boom bap production, but for Key Kool & DJ Rhettmatic to celebrate 30 years of that full-length by reforming the Kozmonautz for an aptly titled Full Circle moment recapturing the same energy of that beloved album & channeling it through the perspectives of the veterans they have evolved into from the young up-&-comers starting out.
Score: 4/5
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