The organization of rap crews is so vastly different than every other kinda of popular music at this late date, its lone antecedent has to be figured to be jazz players that would rotate on a nightly basis dependent upon the locale and setting of the performance. Comprised of no less than 30 members the Soul Assassins crew has been around for well over a decade at this point. And despite the fact that all involved have busy schedules, to say the least, the collective has been able to come together for a third time - the result being Intermission.

Formed around Cypress Hill, the group’s deejay, DJ Muggs, has functioned as a sort of composer and all around organizer for the three albums that have all arrived spread apart by a number of years. Always counting on a number of big names, the previous releases from Soul Assassins – the 1997 Chapter One and the follow up Chapter Two in 2000 – this latest entry doesn’t disappoint when the track listing gets a brief looking over. Noticeably absent for a great deal of the album is Muggs’ band mate B Real. One might assume that considering the emcee recently released a solo disc of his own work, he was otherwise busy while these 15 tracks were being put together.

Despite that lone, surprising almost-absence, Intermission begins in big tyme fashion as Bun B goes in over a creepy ‘80s style synth banger after a shrill yell announces the beginning of the disc. “Gangsta Shit” discusses what one might expect. It’s not all detached from what fans of UGK found so entertaining about that group. And while this album is clearly focused upon the seedy part of life, this first track comes off as an inauspicious beginning. It isn’t a throw away – Huey Newton gets mentioned quickly, but there are certainly stronger tracks to be heard here.

The title track begins with the RZA asking for the levels to get raised up a bit. Another unsettling production props up the procession of rappers here. And while the lyrical content of it all doesn’t move to far away from what’s already been discussed throughout the rest of the disc, the folks on here – B Real, Planet Asia – are able to elevate a pretty base succession of sentiments. Again, “Intermission” isn’t a sub par track, but with the emcees included here, this effort from Soul Assassins could have been a bit stronger.

Despite the way in which life is related and reduced to violence and such, there’s a great deal of cleverness included here. Even the name of the group, if simplified to initials – SA – has more than one meaning. That might not be the most ingenious thing in the world, but it’s just an example of how the folks involved here can be more thoughtful than what this work shows listeners. Again, considering that Soul Assassins isn’t anyone’s main gig, the level of production work, perhaps more so than the raps here, is impressive. It’s not gonna be in heavy rotation anywhere, but even the lesser tracks have the ability to stick in your head.