Name: Pez
AKA: P-Easy
Role: MC
Reppin': Melbourne

You might think you know Pez. The mixtape marauder who ripped it to shreds on Kick To The Head. The dry sex fiend who'll rub ice cubes on your nice shoes. The cartoon lovin' cat with the little purple ninja turtle who couldn't spin in circles.

Think again. A Mind Of My Own, the soulful and (dare we say it) mature debut album from this scarily talented emcee, will shake your perceptions of Pez to the very core.

Entirely produced by Melbourne's best-kept secret Matik, A Mind Of My Own is the vehicle that will transport Pez from underground favourite to industry contender. Featuring some of the most heartfelt lyrics and warm, layered melodies ever heard on a local hip-hop release - and with musical contributions from members of TZU, The Cat Empire and Blue King Brown - the album is a masterwork amid a sea of mediocrity.

It's a far cry from Pez's fabled mixtape appearances as one half of ForthWrite (with 360), but lyric lovers shouldn't fear. A Mind Of My Own features all the double-time flows and multi-syllabic similes a Pez fan could ever hope for. It's just that the shock tactics have been replaced by soulful reflections and meaningful insights from this multi-layered emcee. And in place of the industry bangers are sumptuously crafted musical soundscapes from Matik that fit Pez's raps like a glove.

Highlights are many. Radio single 'Ain't Got Time' (featuring TZU's Count Bounce) sets things off beautifully with an urgent guitar riff and heartfelt admissions from P-Easy about the bumpy road to success. 'These Days' (complemented by the gorgeous vocals of Blue King Brown's Hailey Cramer) is an offbeat acoustic gem with flawless flows from a lyrically supercharged Pez. And the epic 'Lost' narrates the tragic tale of a misguided muso over pounding piano keys and pulsating drums.

There are shining moments of humour, of course. Longtime Pez fans will love 'The Festival Song', which sees Pez and Sixty trade hilarious bars about the summer festival season, or 'I Wanna Go', which goes a step beyond 360's 'My Old School' to transport the listener directly to 1994 - Starter caps, Cross Colours and all.

It's A Mind Of My Own's deeper tracks, however, that are sure to cement this release as a future classic in the minds of music lovers nationwide.

You think you know Pez? You don't. Get to know.

www.myspace.com/emceepez