Do you have over 100 Ralph Lauren Polo articles of clothing in your wardrobe? Do you rep Harlem till you die? You may be a Lo Life and not even know it. But chances are, if you answered yes, you already know. While some rappers don Maison Martin Margiela or Gucci, Sean Pompey aka Da Kush God aka Smoke DZA (Dream Zone Achieve) rocks Ralph Lauren, and more specifically the Rugby line. Throughout Rugby Thompson, the confidence in his style, regarding his clothing and flow, are complemented by 12 killer beats from one of the most consistent producers in the game right now, Harry Fraud.

It was surprising to find that Smoke DZA’s latest studio album is nothing special. The most memorable parts of the album are the instrumentals provided by Harry Fraud and the collection of features. But through the cliche lines about the ridiculous amounts of marijuana he smokes/deals/buys (makes sense High Times Records is releasing the album), the women he can get with (including yours), and the many ways he and his words can seriously harm whack emcees, Smoke DZA tucked away some meaningful content.

“Playground Legend” tells the story of two kids who seem to have it all, locally but not globally. The film noir-esque, rainy day beat and the two narratives help the track serve as a somber message to kids to not let their egos or outside influences distract them from their dreams. The spaced out organ grinder beat on “Rivermonts” is a testament to the rags to riches struggle DZA went through. He “came a long way/from slidin’ skeezers/smokin’ reefer/and the honeycombs and stems” to having “a little power/so I don’t pay at the counter/they know when I’m around, the store reekin’ of sour.”

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Serious Lo-Life hailing from Queens, Meyhem Lauren is getting ready to put out his free EP, Respect the Fly Shit, later this month. And to get anyone who isn’t excited already with that news, he released a track with fellow Outdoorsmen, Action Bronson aka Bam Bam aka Bronsoliño, and Heems of Das Racist. And who else is on the beat but Harry Fraud. I still haven’t heard a beat from Harry Fraud I didn’t immediately jam with. By the way, where’s that Cigarette Boats project with Curren$y, Mr. Fraud?

Party animal/Compose the Fly Shit manual/Shooters on deck/I make ya hot for just a gram or two

That line gets me going almost as much as that clip from Blue Velvet at the end of the track-but in such a different way… Definitely, a different way. (shivers)

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