New York City-based producer DJ Skizz has previously dropped full albums with Big Twins, Da Villins, and D.I.T.C. affiliate Milano Constantine. However, this summer he’s back with another producer compilation in the vein of 2016’s Cruise Control. This DJ/producer who was at the front-lines of Your Old Droog’s breakthrough has developed close relationships with a number the game’s most respected MCs, and they are always down to hop on a track at his request. For High-Powered this Brooklyn beatologist once again uses his proven formula of pairing Hip-Hop’s giants with up-and-coming talent. You get established names like Freeway, Planet Asia, M.O.P’s Lil Fame, and Jedi Mind Tricks Vinnie Paz, next to emerging voices with a buzz like CRIMEAPPLE, Ty Farris, and Battle Rap extraordinaire Nem$.

Just like on Cruise Control, Skizz produces all cuts on this new offering with the exception of one track that he co-produces with Frank Dukes (“Perfect Storm”). If you heard any of his joint albums from 2017, you know the artist born Zach Raemer’s sound is characterized by hard boom-bap drums, thumping basslines, and dusty loops.

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While it would be foolhardy to skip any track here, “Perfect Storm” featuring Willie Da Kid, Planet Asia, and CRIMEAPPLE, “Dead Wrong” featuring Freeway, Conway, and Westside Gunn, and “High-Powered” featuring Jakk Frost, Lil Fame, Vinnie Paz and iFresh are standouts. Fans will likely be talking about verses from Willie, P.A., CRIME’, Free’, Conway, and the Pazmanian Devil for months to come. The surprise standout here is “SuperFly” featuring YL and Starker. Both lyricists glide over Skizz’s jazzy sample in a way that will make Heads’ ears perk up.

While there is plenty of quotable lines on this EP, rising verb-slinger CRIMEAPPLE (who dropped 2018’s impressive Aguardiente album) flames the competition with: “I brought the loud and the Hennessy / I barbecue any rapper over any beat / I’m just competing with myself…multiplicity / The rest of y’all dead like chivalry / Special delivery out the livery / Coppin’ kicks like I’m kin to a millipede / Still preaching to the ministry, villainy / You’re looking at the f*ckin’ epitome.” Nuff said.

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As a note, Freeway just released Think Free, marking a return to Roc Nation. Last month, Jedi Mind Tricks dropped The Bridge And The Abyss while Gunn cocked back his Supreme Blientele LP.