Tony Yayo Me Against The World

The hip-hop game has changed a lot between 2003 and now; there are new means for artists to get their music out to their fans, thanks to so many different sites. Hawaiian Snow is reaching the masses through Internet fame, showcasing the talents of Tony Yayo and Danny Brown -- the epitome of opposite attraction.

Examine Brown: a big gap between his two front teeth, ratty braids, and he sports the infamous zebra pants (first seen in Re-Up). Brown, born in 1981, caught the ears of an A&R at Roc-A-Fella in 2003, but it never went anywhere besides a handful of mixtapes before becoming popular on the Web.

Now, peep Tony Yayo: big diamond earings, rings, watches, and chains, wearing a crooked hat brim. Yayo, born in 1978,  was featured on G Unit's Beg For Mercy and released his own debut Thoughts of a Predicate Felon on Interscope Records in 2003.

Despite their differences, everything works well on Hawaiian Snow, thanks, in part to Doe Pesci's (G-Unit) superb production (listen to "On One," "O.M.G.," and "Cyclops"). Pesci executes best when the bass lines are deep, loops are dark, and drums thump menacingly. He seems to draw inspiration from Mannie Fresh and has created perfect music that would go well with a sci-fi horror movie.  The listener will see he has created a murderous setting for the characters Tony Montana (Tony Yayo) and Patrick Bateman (Danny Brown) to live in.

On an album highlight, "Bags Double Tied," Danny Brown rhymes about "eating adderall like Flintstone vitamins," while Tony Yayo exclaims he's a "lonely stoner like Kid Cudi" and "feds giving 85 like Ocho Cinco Numbers."

"So High" has Brown's hook confirming, "If you wanna see us, look up in the sky, we're never coming down, we are parallel to fly."

"Trap Ball" (Internet-rapper-workhorse-sensation Lil B is featured on this track and on "Trippin'") and "O.M.G." contain some of Brown's most visually potent lyrics to date. "Cyclops" is an album-stealer from the moment Brown spits "like Cyclops took his glasses off" (Danny is a fan of comic book characters, see his Tumblr).

Huge kudos to Tony Yayo (who is a huge underground hip-hop fan) for letting Brown shine on the album. While Hawaiian Snow will not appeal to the masses, fans of  Tony Yayo, Danny Brown, and Lil B are in for a treat.