Heater In My Truck Ii (Bonus Tracks) [CD], Epic, CD

The OG of prairie folk rap returns with Heater In My Truck II, an album that is a sequel in both name and spirit to his vinyl-only album from 2003. Epic proves here that he is a master at manifesting the mundane through music, touching on such exciting topics as his "Old Shit Out in the Garage," putting a "Survey in a Box," and the beautiful "Wallpaper," all done with a mix of earnest honesty and humble humour. He also honours the roots of hip hop with songs like "Lethal Test Pressings" and "Cassettes," along with plenty of references to hip hop history matched in number only by his references to Canadiana. You can tell these are two things close to his heart. Unlike his last two albums, Heater In My Truck II taps the talents of multiple producers, such as Moka Only, Moves, Maki, Aries, Gods & Nmbrs, and more, but the album is purposefully curated to create a jazzy, chill vibe with enough upbeat bops to get the toes tapping along with the head nodding. Recorded alongside the darker, heavier, and more experimental A Library Called Calder, Heater II is more emo folk rap than that album or even Nassau Manor. And to provide a little more vocal variety, Epic calls on the lyrical prowess of his friends Noah23, Emprime, Inky, Aries, and newcomer 33, who all add their own unique touch to the proceedings. Yet another choice addition to the legacy of late-era Epic.