"Kay Slay’s religion was hip-hop, a cliche that was true for him in the way it was for few others who make the same claim. He followed a militant, dogmatic, ultra-orthodox sect of the big tent faith and he was a true believer. The New York varietal of mixtape rap, skeletal, grating production stripped to its bone, with no catchy hooks or fat samples to lean on, gives you nowhere to hide. It’s set up and punchline, a brutal proving ground that relies on pure pen, flow and charisma."