Producer 6Fingers and emcee Topkat, both hailing from the Bay Area in Vallejo, California have both been making music for a few years now. 6Fingers has produced for other Beatrock artists, such as Bambu and Rocky Rivera, but this album marks his official debut as a Beatrock artist, and he brought his most frequent collaborator along for the ride.

The two have the kind of chemistry that comes from having known each other for years, and it comes across in the music. 6Fingers shines when he’s bouncing some West Coast laid back beats with some chopped up and reworked soul samples, while also mixing in some weird noises here and there. Topkat sounds very natural when bouncing along to these beats, and the two manage to swing back and forth between serious and playful very well. “Damned if You Do, Damned if You Don’t,” with Del The Funky Homosapien and Exile is a summer jam waiting to happen, with a beat that bounces playfully and sounds great with the stereo turned up. F. Stokes fans are sure to recognize the funky sample being used on the bonus track, “Overdose,” which despite the grim title is actually quite fun. There are some really great serious tracks as well, with “Automatic” featuring Bambu creating some excellent discussion of race, poverty, and violence. This album also works really well in introducing a lot of talent that those outside of the Bay Area, such as Chariz, Japedo, Do D.A.T., Katmann Dusenberg, and Moe Green. The best of the guests, though, are the two strong women, Rocky Rivera and Hopie, who make the most of their short appearances to steal a couple of songs. There are times when things don’t come together well, though. Sometimes it’s the production, sometimes it’s the lyrics. “Cheap Necklace,” the second track on the album, sounds like their best attempt at an MF Doom track, but feels very unnatural and forced. “Downgirl” has a great Motown-inspired beat, but the lyrics, while well-meaning, sounds like something a fifteen-year-old would write about a potential girlfriend. The good news, though, is that these low points are few and far between, and the majority of the album works very well.

It’s not perfect, but there’s a lot to like about Mercury Retrograde. I imagine that this will be an introduction for a lot of people to a lot of Bay Area talent, and it’s a very enjoyable album. 6Fingers + Topkat can bring the party, but they can also discuss some serious issues, and neither sounds out of place. I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from all involved with this record.