It’s fitting that at the same time Blu releases ‘Open’ – the rapper’s first ever production album featuring guest vocalists – his ‘Below the Heavens’ partner Exile drops ‘4trk Mind’, a record where the Californian beatsmith takes on not only production duties, but diligently provides all the rhymes as well (with the exception of a few tracks). As a provider of beats for the likes of Emanon (with Aloe Blacc), Blu, Pharoahe Monch and Fashawn, Exile (real name Aleksander Manfredi) has proven to be one of hip-hop’s most skilled MPC proponents. With staggering consistency, Manfredi makes organic, dope music – proper backpack shit. And, while he’s been known to spit the odd rhyme here and there, it’s not until now that we really get to see what he’s capable of as a rapper.
