After a two-year hiatus, Da L.E.S recaptures his spark effortlessly on his ninth solo album. L.E.S’ trademarks have been accessibility and lightheartedness since he first stepped into the music scene as part of hip-hop supergroup Jozi. 313 bears the same characteristics and features luxe lyrics over lush production. After the success he has enjoyed during a career spanning nearly two decades, L.E.S sticks to his tried-and-tested formula. He exudes the same panache when he collaborates with newer artists such as FLVME and Roiii (“Get to the Money”), Manu WorldStar, and Navio (“Solo”), as he does when he connects with his frequent collaborators Maggz (“Respectfully” and “Pressure”), Gemini Major (“Solo”), and Nasty C (“Pressure”). “Intro (Did It)” illustrates that even a veteran like Da L.E.S still values patience but he’s quick to advise that tenacity is equally important. “Don’t let nobody tell you you can’t do nothing man/Take your own time with that shit…the world is yours bro,” he kicks off, adding, “They said I weren’t gon’ make but I did it in my own time/They said I weren’t gon’ do it but I did it in my own time.” He maintains his proud ambassadorship of the affluent north of Johannesburg, rapping, “How can you say we fell off when the north side start at the top?/Sandton, Sandton, Sandton, we in the building” on “North 94 Freestyle” and on “Katy F*king Low” (“I’m a north side n***a till the casket fall”). Amid the cheery vibes, Da L.E.S still manages to show his mettle as an MC on “313 Freestyle,” ending it with a nod to his fallen brothers in rhyme, Riky Rick and AKA.