ID has always been Archetype's lyrical superstar, an MC with an intricate and verbose style that remains the group's center of gravity. Never one to stoop to chest-thumping boasts or other thuggish gestures, ID sticks to the less-traveled scholarly path, dropping Yoda-like pearls of wisdom at every turn. The towers that fall down don't always stand highest/And even the brightest star can be dying out before the night ends/So keep the fires in/The most inspirin'/And you can be champion among mighty men/Or you can just be one to watch the world roll by again/Another broken automan, he proclaims on "Reel Roll By" as Nezbeat's moody production lolls in the background. "Move" takes a similarly laid-back approach but quickly morphs into a warp-speed drum 'n' bass workout that finds ID masterfully switching cadences to keep up. In addition to a wealth of fresh material, Freehand reintroduces several head-bobbing classics ("Broadcast," "Signal") that indicate Archetype's staunch commitment to the underground might find a larger following after all.
