"X-MAN" featuring Diamond kicks the album off. Diamond from D.I.T.C. not only handles the production but also the hook:. "Who makes the joints thats hot? -It's Sadat! (SadatX: "But you can call meee X-man"). -Run thru ya city and blow up the spot -It's Sadat! (SadatX: "But you can call me X-man")..." The beat is dope. It bounces along and Sadat X truly displays how he can make a song his own. Sadat X and DITC make a great combination. Sadat's flow is dope on this track. "LOW MAINTENANCE, HIGH WEAR" is another banger that was produced by Dart La and has a more electronic muddy bassline feel to it. The production is dope and the drums of the beat hit nice. Sadat X's flow is very cool here on this upbeat joint. He handles the hook alone: "..I wanna go far - F*ck trying to be a star - Still keep the (3-piece? PC?) in the back of my car -If you're looking for trouble, dick, we aaare, hungry here - no champagne, just beer.... put your game down clear - low maintenance, high wear...". These are the cool joints that are not appreciated by djs. As Sadat spits his flow,a bit of attitude towards life and his philosophy pours out. His rhyme style in his verses are just nice and tight while maintaining his loose quality. The balance is perfect.  This is a wondeful song that will be overlooked by most. "KA-CHING" featuring Hi-Tymes was produced by Minnesota and is probably the worst song on the EP. It is the first Sadat X song that I can honestly say I don't like too much. The main problem with this track is the annoying hook and the weak rhyme performances of Hi-Tymes. the hook is chanted by all of them and sounds kind of sloppy as they rhyme "fancy things"  and "bling, bling" , and "diamond ring" with the hook ending off  "Ka-ching-ching!" This could have been real cool but it was not executed the right way due to the lame and extremely sexist verses by Hi-Tymes. If they only did the hook and let Sadat do his thing with the verses, this would have been a cool song. The hook can be tolerated but Hi-tymes are just so plain and unimportant sounding. Here is a time when I would have rather heard him with Lord Jamar or Grand Puba.. better yet, I would think someone like O.C. would have been good on this track.  "COCK IT BACK" produced by A Kid Called Roots is the hardest song on the album due to the subject matter. This song is about the feeling you get when you shoot a gun. "When I'm feeling I'm falling the f*ck down - and for the hell of it, wanna let off a round - Cock it back, nigga! (click!) Cock it back! -Cock it back, nigga! (click!) Cock it back!. - When the world is cold and grey - wake up in the morning - don't f*ck with me today - Cock it back, nigga! (click!) Cock it baaack!.." The sound effects of the gun getting cocked back is dope. The average hiphop song about guns would use the gunshot sound but this uses the cocking  back sound which gives the song a more sinister feel. Some psychologists say that the energy level of a person is higher BEFORE they pull the trigger than after. The grimy and angry vibe of the track reminds me of the song "Alladat" featuring Busta Rhymes from the "Everything Is Everything"  album. This is the Sadat X I grew to love in hip-hop. Many may dismiss this track as just another gun-lover's song but it's a little deeper than that. The grimy and sinister feel gives Sadat X and edge that "Foundation" was missing. I felt like he's back. I'm sure he's a peaceful guy but he displays the agression he displayed on "Everything Is Everything". This is not the Sadat X from "All For One" either. This is for those who loved "Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down"... this is a dope track and the craziness of the electronic sound in the background adds to the frenzy. "IF...(IT AIN'T ABOUT PAPER)" featuring Hi-Tymes was produced by Minnesota too. This track which features these lame emcees again is also about money. This song is not as annoying as "Ka-Ching". The beat is also better and more complete. The drilling effect of this electronic sound in the background adds to the fullness of the production. Unlike the chanted hook of  "Ka-ching", this hook is sung: "..If it ain't about paper - it ain't about me - Put too much work in my hustle - to die broke on these streets..." Once again, Sadat X steals the show with his performance. This is another track where O.C. or Big L would have sounded dope over instead of the limited Hi-Tymes. It's not a wack song since it's a step higher than "Ka-ching" but it is one of the weaker tracks on the EP. The mini-album ends with the incredible "YOU CAN'T DENY" produced by Diamond and it is the most heart-felt song I ever heard from Dotty X. The guitar driven beat uses a flipped sample from "You Used To Love Me By Faith Evans".. but hardcore heads, don't get the wrong idea! This track is dope! The sample is flipped perfectly as the sample hook sounds filtered. This makes it sound like a hiphop song and not some commercial R&B hook. "You can't deny... what I'm feeling... is real.." and Sadat X is head in the background "Sh*t is real". Dotty X rhymes about a failed relationship. These are the songs that we can all relate to. ".. I saw you the other day.. but that's the nature of the game, hey- but I love to see my ex-sport shining - like minerals and great art- like to think I played a great part..." This is a perfect song and should have been a single. It could have easily gained the same momentum as "The Lump Lump" did. It strikes a chord in both men and women. It's not only perfect beat-wise but lyrically and delivery-wise by Sadat. His rhyme style and lyrics paint the emotion with ease even though the emotion is one of tension, meloncholy and intensity. This is a great way to end the EP.
 
In a way, Sadat X is just a regular guy. He kind of reminds me of Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest because both played second fiddle to the more spiritual and preachy frontman. (Phife-Q-tip and Sadat X-Lord Jamar). Just like Phife, Sadat's appeal is that he could be you or me. He's not all bling blinged out with diamonds and jewels but he's still on the route for paper. He's not driving Bentley's and pimping hoes while playing superstar status. He's the regular guy you bump into on the way to the corner store who just happens to be an signed emcee with some classic hiphop joints under his belt.

Where many emcees rhyme with a similar amount of syllables each line and every ending word rhyming, Sadat X destroys that format. He brings energy and excitement into the rhyme flow and delivery. This "free-form" style may bring him offbeat sometimes but he has the expertise and skill to always come back on beat with his excellent technique. You never know when his words will not rhyme or he will change up his delivery and flow. Del The Funkiehomosapian has a similar talent to but Sadat X can pull of non-rhyming verses while still giving his verse a strong rhythm. Delivery, Sadat X is like no one else... Thank God! Even though his flow and delivery are extremely unique and wild, Dotty X keeps things to a minimun on the lyrical side. His subjects are limited to guns, money and women.. typical hiphop but it's his delivery and style that sets him apart from other emcees. Though his subject matter may not be very original, he is creative with his subjects. Dotty X shines a different light on otherwise, tired hiphop subjects and makes it seem fresh.

Production wise, Diamond from DITC steals the show. Even though Dart La ("Low Maintainance, High Wear") and A Kid Called Roots ("Cock It Back") make strong efforts, Diamond's expertise and professionalism of making a complete beat blows them away. This is demonstrated at both the begining ("X-man") and the end ("You Can't Deny"). He shows his versitily and talent. At the same time, Sadat X displays that he knows who to choose when it comes to production. There is not one wack beat on the EP. Even "Ka-Ching" produced by Minnesota has a cool beat with a great energy... the guests (Hi-tymes) are the ones who ruin the song.

On the hardcore hiphop scale, Sadat X is the way I like him to be... strong, sinister and very free when it comes to his expression. Songs like "Cock It Back" display his hardcore feelings of aggression and anger while the softer "You Can't Deny" still maintains his hardcore feeling while being a little more sensitive. Like "Chicka Woo" by Heltah Skeltah, Sadat X can flip a softer sounding relationship song into a hardcore hiphop track.The hardcore expression is evident in every single track and it is evident through the performance of X's delivery and lyrics but also the dope beats he chose for the EP.

Since this is an EP clocking in under 30 minutes, the album flows very quick and can be listened to in one sitting.All the beats are dope and the Sadat X gives a great performance. The only thing that slows down the flow are the guest spots by Hi-Tymes. They are not wack emcees but they are lackluster. There is nothing exceptional about them. Not only do they not drop memorable verses, their style and flow is unimpressive.

Many critics have given this EP a bad reputation and I may be biased since I am a strong Sadat X fan. I think he's a great emcee with a cool voice and style while some may not like his high-pitched voice and his erratic unorthodox delivery/flow. It's all relative. If you like Sadat and the more hardcore Brand Nubian joints, pick this EP up. Keep in mind, it's not flossed out in diamonds and jewels and cars. This is hip-hop for the working man. In interviews, Dotty X states that he doesn't reprsent the drug dealer who are moving kelos... he represents the ones who have to hustle on the corner for a $100 bucks. To me, this makes him easier to relate to. His Muslim or Islamic influence is not even evident on this EP nor was it really evident on "Wild Cowboys". The pro-black vibe was felt on "cowboys" and on the Brand Nubian LPs but it doesn't really dominate this EP. It's in the background...it's between the lines so to speak.

So.. is this EP better than "Wild Cowboys"? In some ways it is and in some ways, it isn't. It's better because it flows quicker and the songs are tighter. The hooks are tight and it seemed more focused overall. However, "Cowboys" had more consistant production from DITC, Beatminerz, etc.. and some dope scratches from Roc Raida. Both are aquired tastes and have some weak performances from guest emcees. "Cowboys" have The Money Boss Players on a track..(which Hi-Tymes are actually apart of.). Also, where is Sean Black on this EP? Since it is an EP, I wish it was a full length album and a comparison could not be considered 100% fair due to length.

Sadat X is an aquired taste. When I first heard Brand Nubian, I always liked Grand Puba and Lord Jamar better but after many many listens and years of  living the hiphop lifestyle,  I grew to appreciate Dotty X and learn to love him as an emcee. Personally, I like him more than Puba and Jamar. So, keep in mind. If you are a fan of Dotty X, this should be in your collection. It can also be a nice, small introduction into the world of Sadat X too for the first time listener but I would recommed Brand Nubian stuff for first time listeners because he does take time to get use to. While some critics and fans may think Sadat X came up short on this EP, in the case between The state of hip-hop vs. Derek Murphy.. Sadat X is guilty.... guilty of making a dope EP.

Beats: 9/10
Production: 9/10
Lyrics: 9/10
Originality/Creativity: 8/10
Album Flow: .9/10
Hardcore Rating: 9/10
[ Overall Rating: 9 / 10. ]

my interview with LORD JAMAR.