Coast Contra is a jazz rap/trap group from Los Angeles, California consisting of RioLoz, Eric Jamal & Ras Kass’ twin children Taj Austin & Ras Austin. Their debut album Apt. 505 in the spring of 2022 received significant acclaim & their debut EP The Old Way the next fall, coming off being featured on Masta Ace & Talib Kweli’s latest albums Richmond Hill & The Confidence of Knowing respectively followed by the Austin twins’ appearance on Kamasi Washington’s 5th album Fearless Movement a year ago by teaming up with Toronto, Ontario, Canada producer Marco Polo for their 2nd EP.

“Mountain Climbers” begins with this jazzy boom bap intro wanting everyone who’s working all day to know that their time is on the way & to keep climbing making way for “‘08 Obama” to work in a soul sample mixed with kicks & snares talking about everything they cook being raw, but then “Shanghai Tower” gets romantic over a luxurious boom bap instrumental. 

The other half of the EP gets going setting out to make it right with their partners on “Been a Minute” backed by strings, kicks & snares while “Sunday Regulars” realizes obedience bringing a gospel/boom bap twist. The dusty, piano-driven title track wraps up Coast Contra’s finest work as a group with that shit you can’t fuck with.

These guys’ rise to notability has served as a breath of fresh air to hip hop fans due to the raw talent, complex lyricism, camaraderie & infectious personalities of all 4 members celebrating a decade together with the project that I’ve always wanted Coast Contra to make capitalizing on what makes the group so special. Marco Polo’s production strongly caters to boom bap, jazz rap & samples of gospel & soul music perfectly backing the quartet in reminding everyone who they are.

Score: 9/10