Rakaa might be the most overlooked member of Dilated Peoples. DJ Babu gets attention as part of the Beat Junkies crew, and fellow emcee Evidence has a couple of solo releases. With Crown of Thorns, Rakaa looks to step out and create an identity for himself.

On the first few tracks, which are decent, it’s a bit more of the same in terms of his work with DP, but nothing really stands out. I had to listen to the album several times before it started to sink in and I appreciated them more. Which is fine, but not the most desirable thing with a solo debut.

The good news for everyone involved is that the album takes a sharp turn with “C.T.D.” Babu brilliantly takes a short portion of Martha and the Vandella’s “(Love is Like a) Heat Wave,” then drops the bottom out of it, cuts the tempo in half, and drops a heavy bass and kick drum. Rakaa spits some great rhymes about the state of hip hop and L.A., and finally introduces himself as a solo emcee. I’ve been listening to this song for about a week straight and I still can’t get enough of it. Definitely one of my favorite summer jams this year.

Rakka then comes back with “Assault and Battery,” a harsh track from Oh No that recalls El-P, with Rakaa dropping some battle rhymes. It’s all right, but doesn’t stand out. On “Mezcal,” Illmind employs a nice mid-tempo Latin beat that allows Rakaa to make a fun Cali-Mex jam. One of the real treats of the album comes in the form of “Rosetta Stone Groove (Universal Language),” which lays down a simple but interesting soul-jazz groove with bass and congas as Rakaa and Noelle Scaggs lead us through a song celebrating the positive power of music. DP-styled “Aces High,” includes spots from Evidence, Fashawn, and Defari. El-P produces the dark funk on “Mean Streak” while Rakaa and Chali 2na rhyme about tagging, which I feel like too few people do any more. Perhaps the most moving song on the album is the last, “Upstairs.” It features a sweet guitar line and simple snap, as Rakaa recounts the near loss of a loved one. It’s beautiful and moving without feeling manipulative. A great way to close out the album.

While I don’t feel that every track pushes Rakaa into new territory as a solo artist, we get enough good DP-styled tracks along with some interesting standouts that make for a solid debut. It rewards upon repeated listens, and “C.T.D” is ruling my summer. Not bad at all, Rakaa.