For the past 10 years, Akrobatik has been one of the most reliable MCs in the entire indie hip-hop movement. As heard on his new solo LP, Ak’s staying power has a lot to do with his dynamic voice and flow, which hardly wanes even on the somber tracks here (“Rain” and “Kindred”). Longtime Akrobatik fans will especially appreciate the intensity of the organ-laced banger “Step It Up!” featuring lines like, “They say a rapper’s only as good as his last cut/So I make sure they all knock.” But the MC leaves the greatest impression when he balances his hard-hitting approach with focused subject matter as he does on the Little Brother-assisted “Be Prepared,” a soulful examination of the rap game.