Brace 4 Impak may be the first album by DJ Evil Dee and Mr Walt as the Beatminerz, but they have been prime suppliers of meaty beats and on-point head nods for a while now, conjuring up often distinctive sounds for crews as diverse and respected as Black Moon, Smif N Wessun, The Roots, Rah Digga and D' Angelo. For this debut long player the production duo draft in a who's-who of (mainly) New York vocalists and verbalisers. Across the course of the LP, Busta Rhymes and his Flipmode Squad, Total, Xzibit, Pete Rock, Naughty by Nature, Talib Kweli, Caron Wheeler, M.O.P., Heather B, Freddie Foxx and Lord Tariq all get to flex their skills. On "Extreme Situation" (feat Cocoa Brovas alongside Blackhearted Skavangers) the producers step back to the dubbed out, reggae tinged vibe that they first came with on Smif N Wesun's "Dah Shinin". On "The Anti Love Movement" they present the unlikely but enjoyable pairing of Total and Talib Kweli. Apani B Fly turns in an ultra-dope performance as usual on "Shut The F**k Up", and Pete Rock and ex Soul II Soul songstress Caron Wheeler smooth the party out with their duet "Open". Swaying from the raucous and rambunctious to the lithe and the laid back, this is a well balanced, tightly produced and testosterone fuelled party jam that's just about ready to explode in your speakers. --Paul Sullivan