The Proov is the Netherlands-based group featuring Gumshoe, CeeMajor, L.Geronimo, and DJ Optimus. They’ve been making their own brand of hip hop since the late nineties. Off the Cuff is their first release in three years, and it’s a solid album from start to finish.

The real strength of Off the Cuff lies in the production, which drives the album from start to finish. This is where guest producer Colt, and DJ Optimus get to shine. Together they craft a style that walks the fine line between sounding futuristic and old school, in a similar fashion to Antipop Consortium, although not quite as abstract. There are plenty of funky midtempo grooves that use drums-only sections that allow space for the emcees to drop rhymes. The presence of some great scratched hooks demonstrate the presence of Optimus on the album is not negligible. Instrumentation is provided almost entirely by synthesizers, which sway back and forth between early eighties electro-boogie and some eerie and ominous sci-fi futuristic swagger. The result is a record that demands to be listened at a high volume. You’ll want to pump this in your car stereo.

Gumshoe and CeeMajor both use an old school approach to lyricism, with plenty of fun and clever turns of phrase, but don’t tell any interesting stories or have any political messages to push the album over the top. That said, they are both skilled on the mic and have good flows and play with different rhyme schemes. This especially comes to the forefront when they are coming up with battle raps, such as on the song “Y’all Rappers,”” which features a great verse from CeeMajor, who declares “Fuck y’all rappers/the eternal pedigree/my mental telepathy/crushes y’all weaponry/with a divine touch/my shine is heavenly…” and continues this rhyme scheme through the rest of the verse, building momentum and crushing wannabe emcees.

Off the Cuff is an album for hip hop fans that want a modern interpretation of old school hip hop essentials. Funky drums, great scratching, and clever battle-tested rhymes all come together to make this an album that will be sure to get people bobbing their heads.