A three-man group in which no one is a weak link, Hangar 18 presents another solid display of both lyricism and musicianship on their second full-length, Sweep the Leg. Released on Definitive Jux, the album is charged with dark, grimey, percussive beats — courtesy of paWL — that recall both the urban grittiness of much of the label’s other records (in particular El-P’s, especially with tracks like “Room to Breathe” and “Watchyoself”) or even M.I.A. (“Really Wide,” for instance), sparse percussion and synths taking a heavy upper hand. Yet, thanks to the inclusion of warmer, brighter guitar and keyboards, parts of Sweep the Leg are also reminiscent of Rhymesayer’s productions; equally aggressive and driving, but with a less desolate tone — “Feet to Feet” even sounds like it could belong on something by Brother Ali (as if to drive this point in further, the album’s only guest is Atmosphere’s Slug, who unfortunately and rather surprisingly adds a pretty weak verse to an otherwise decent “Dance with Me”). Hangar 18′s two MCs, Alaska and Windnbreeze, both have good, clean flows, and even though they don’t move much from the quick triplet delivery they’re most comfortable with, their verses never end up sounding monotonous or predictable. Much of this is because they’re able to switch up their subject matter, staying “conscious,” of course, on songs like “Watchyoself,” which isn’t so much a threat but a call of concern, but also including the requisite “club” track, or at least their interpretation of it, which comes in the form of the highly danceable, house-influenced “Bakin Soda” (“Shake yo’ ass and move that crack,” they cry excitedly in the hook). And while occasionally things can stray into the über-positive (“Think Big,” for example, which is just a little too corny), there’s enough thematic diversity to keep Sweep the Leg from getting weighed down in one way or another. It’s a solid release, true-to-life and real and full of catchy phrases and bars, created and performed by musicians who clearly know what they’re doing, who clearly understand and love hip-hop, and who clearly know how to make a pretty decent album. – Marisa Brown