Last summer Def Jux founder, producer, rapper, and all-around underground hip-hop pioneer of the ’00s El-P reemerged with a collection of instrumentals entitled Weareallgoingtoburninhellmegamixxx3 and a performance at LA’s premier beat night, Low End Theory. Possibly sparked by that appearance, Low End’s resident MC, Nocando (pictured above), happens to grace this menacing instrumental with an incredibly intelligent and impassioned verse. Anyone who’s had a chance to catch Nocando on a Wednesday night in LA has probably already been hipped to the MC’s style (a mix of clever quips, honest thoughts, and party starting), but for those who are not familiar, this verse should serve as a nice introduction. El-P’s mix of fuzzy psychedelia kicks the track off before being taken over by an aggressive breakbeat upon which Nocando absolutely kills it, covering a wide territory of subject matter with a quick, smart, and intense flow. Lines like “My friend said it would be the end of our era soon/And we should trade our Nissans in for hot air balloons” are just scratching the surface. Let’s hope there’s more of this collab down the line in one form or another.

Time Won’t Tell featuring Nocando