A year after his acclaimed solo LP
The Weatherman, the respected West Coast MC/producer known as
Evidence lays off the Pro Tools and takes a turn on the mike on this EP release.
The Layover began life as a five-song collaboration project with North Carolina beatsmith
Khrysis, an idea the two had while on tour with
Little Brother. The end result is an economical ten-track effort that never seems to falter. With a narrative centered on a weary
Ev stuck in an airport waiting on a never-ending flight delay,
The Layover allows the
Dilated lyricist to stretch his
Weatherman concept on tracks like "Rain or Shine" and "The Cold Weather."
Evidence turns introspective, passing the mike to
Phonte,
Blue, and
will.i.am on the haunting
Khrysis-produced "For Whom the Bell Tolls," while the
Alchemist collabo (billed as
the Step Brothers) "So Fresh" stands out as one of the EP's most inspired moments. Consistently above-bar from start to finish,
The Layover ends on a high note with the self-produced gem "The Cold Weather," as
Ev lays his trademark controlled monotone over a stumbling piano loop.