The hip hop of today is multi-faceted, with many different artists and a variety of styles.

Mars Ill is a group that captures hip hop in its purest form: honest lyrics, dope beats with guitar, horn and eerie samples together with two turntables.

After establishing themselves independently, and amassing a dedicated fan base, Backbreakanomics is the national release for the duo, and another hip hop gem in the arsenal of Gotee Records. It’s sure to make waves not only in the underground and college scene, but in mainstream.

Dust provides the beats and Manchild, the lyrics, as they explain what they are about on the horn-filled, “Breathe Slow”. That definition is “Aristotle mixed with Krush Groove”.

The always entertaining and zany Pigeon John guests on “Plains and Trains”. John shows his versatility and fits in just fine over the slow, boom bip of Dust, and almost comes off sounding like a third member of Mars Ill.

The crew is not afraid to tackle tough issues, as on “Inside Out” and “Alpha Male”. The former addresses the reality of a man dealing with finding Jesus in the midst of all other philosophies while in jail. Domestic abuse is the theme of “Alpha Male” as Manchild raps over Dust’s dope, boom-bip, laced with piano samples.

Also dope is “Calm Before the Storm”, a song which explains that before anything else, God was there. Other standout cuts are “PieceMeal”, BlackBox Artists” and “LumpSum”.

Mars Ill deliver a gem of an album that is hip hop at its finest. It’s pure. And Gotee Records again show that they know talent and substance when they hear it.