Dirt Platoon brings the raw, gritty sound of Baltimore's inner city streets to life on "Deeper Than Dirt" (released by Brake Fast Records). The album begins with an ode to the street the two brothers grew up on, "Pennsylvania Ave.", which draws a stamp of approval from street legend and "American Gangster" Melvin Williams, who makes a cameo in the video. It continues with aggressive, in-your-face lyrics, as Dirt Platoon stake their claim in hip-hop and prove that "these other rappers is garbage, the match-ups be uneven". These multi-dimensional emcees also show that they aren't all brute on tracks like "Raven" and "Long Time No C" as they discuss interactions and relationships with the opposite sex. Whether it's a braggadocious rap, an introspective look into the gutter, or a song for the ladies, Dirt Platoon's superb lyrical ability and robust metaphors prove to be a testament to songwriting. "Deeper Than Dirt" carries a cohesive, addictive sound that rings true with hip-hop purists and true schoolers. Tom