Andy Cooper is best known as one of the emcees from legendary Long Beach group Ugly Duckling. While the group has been quiet for several years now, Cooper delivered his first solo album, Room To Breathe, last February. He now comes back for round two with The Layered Effect.

Cooper is best known as an emcee, but on The Layered Effect he also steps up and produces the entire album, with Sensi coming in to help on one track to co-produce. That particular track is titled “Last Day of a Dying Breed,” which is somewhat emblematic of Cooper’s style. If you’re familiar with Ugly Duckling or his first solo album, you know that Cooper is devoted to the roots of hip hop, digging for the obscure and funky samples, always looking for that elusive breakbeat. The result is an album full of funky, funky drums, a mix of soul and novelty samples, with everything coming together to deliver a listening experience that is incredibly fun to listen to. On top this great production, you’ve got a veteran emcee whose really developed his toolset, coming at you with the vocal dexterity, with wordplay and punchlines for days, all while discussing his love and respect for hip hop culture, and how he’s had to adapt and learn how to survive for twenty years as an independent artist. It’s not anything groundbreaking or all that different from Cooper, but he’s been so good and consistent as both a solo artist and as a member of Ugly Duckling, you won’t be disappointed to get another solid hip hop album out him.

The Layered Effect is exactly what you’d expect from an Andy Cooper solo album. It’s funky, full of great rhymes, and just a ton of fun to listen to. You can’t go wrong with that.