Tek and Steele, better known as Smif-N-Wessun, are part of the Boot Camp Clik collective, and have been on the East Coast hip-hop scene since the early 1990s when they collaborated with Black Moon. A decade and a half down the road, the Brooklyn duo has kept their credibility while managing to progress both artistically and commercially. THE ALBUM doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of street life, but it doesn't celebrate them either. Instead, the pair's lyrics present an often thoughtful, complex view of inner-city tribulations. Avoiding bravado, these tracks have a complicated emotional makeup that encompasses love, shame, regret, and hope all at the same time. Accordingly, the production is sophisticated, offering up enough hooks to connect with the mainstream but running on a careful combination of textures incorporating everything from dancehall to disco.