No one in the underground scene epitomizes the term “innovative” more than P.O.S. Drawing from his past experiences in the hardcore/punk scene, the Minneapolis-based rapper has received a reputation for combining a myriad of seemingly incompatible sounds into each track he creates, generating a truly unique sound. Some call his latest work “genius,” while some call it “unclassifiable.” I think “innovative” is the only word that truly sums up P.O.S.’s third full-length release, Never Better (his second under Rhymesayers). Despite the three-year gap between releases, P.O.S. picks up right where he left off in Audition, creating 16 of the trippiest, most in-your-face tracks unlike anything the hip-hop world has ever heard.

P.O.S. has never been one to truly utilize a uniform precession of percussion, which is apparent in Never Better. While many rappers love to blow out car speakers and alter heart rates with overwhelming levels of bass, P.O.S. experiments with a radically different approach; rapping to the beat of a drum roll in a couple tracks. The aptly named “Drumroll (We’re All Thirsty)” is two minutes and thirty-seven seconds of what many would consider chaos: a jazz-influenced drum roll, extremely distorted guitar feedback, a punk-like anthem in the chorus (“We’re so thirsty for moooooore”), and a well-executed Twista impersonation. But believe it or not, all these seemingly contrasting elements come together to make an odd harmony. In “Purexed,” P.O.S. attempts to build upon the success of the drum roll in “Drumroll” while experimenting with style of flow influenced by fellow Rhymesayer, Slug. Once again, a great success.

As the album progresses, P.O.S. buckles down and gets a little more serious, focusing less on creating a hip-hop sound revolution and more on what he does best; brutal MCing. This is most apparent in “Goodbye” and “Low Light Low Life.” The beats become slightly more traditional, emphasizing somewhat of an old school revival. He experiments less with his sound, and really dials in, eloquently pouring out his heart in every verse.

This is short-lived, however, as the album abruptly shifts back to “trip-out” mode, in the track ironically titled “The Basics.” Here, P.O.S. blurs the lines between hip-hop and the progressive experimental alt sound more than ever, making it difficult to distinguish any sort of order. It is eerily similar to the kind of controlled chaos exhibited by Anthony Green in his experimental project, the Sounds of Animals Fighting.

It has been almost three whole years since the release of “Audition,” leaving many, including myself, to believe that P.O.S. had just dropped off the face of the planet. However, it is apparent now what he had been doing; maintaining his status as the most innovative rapper on the scene. Never Better is an album that will change the way you define genre lines, however, it is definitely an acquired taste; not for the faint of heart.

-Jeff Wu