Octopus Jones presents this as a seamless mix of sorts, yet 8 is actually more of a 40-minute jazz-infused trip, with a plethora of electronic elements and the occasional nod to Bob James. The notion of the instrumental hip-hop album is, in itself, nothing new, but this album sets an unassuming (and pleasing) tone almost immediately. Blending slick synths with heavy beats, all the while maintaining a certain understated rhythm and energy, 8 is ‘that’ album for a certain mood.
