John Engelhardt keeps on keeping on. In his latest contribution to his Hilltop Hoods anthology we see the artist maintain the same style but quite dramatically shift the method and execution. In State of the Art we see the artist explore his penchant for computer illustration and the result is incredible. The explosion of all things that presumably make upthe heart and soul of a true hip hop head is intensely detailed and crisp in comparison to previous cover which stayed closer to the paint and brush aesthetic. Taking its cue from a Christopher Lambert Highlander aesthetic, the art is visibly charged and conveys perfectly a subject consumed by the power of music. The cover for State of the Art is a powerful piece and will inevitably move many units for the ever-onpoint Hoods. The album is fine too. Very polished production, as seems to be the rule of thumb for all Aus Hip Hop nowadays, Debris can’t be faulted. However, the Hoods just seem a little too far removed from the mic, and a little less hungry, which is a shame because that’s what excited me about the skips getting into the genre in the first place.