Evolve or Be Extinct

The title suggests Wiley’s blazing new sonic trails but this double album is more about refinement and consolidation. “Scar” and the title track echo and tweak the clattering, hypnotic sounds of 2004 debut <i>Treddin’ On Thin Ice</i>, while “Boom Blast” locates the sweet spot between electro brutalism and club-ready dance grooves. Introspection and humor continue to set Wiley apart from other MCs—underlined by the simultaneously playful and poignant “Cheer Up, It’s Christmas”.