Fresh off the success of The Council Of The Gods’ latest group album, Trilogy, Kingston’s Nomad Carlos is stepping up with Element of Surprize, an album balancing cinematic tales with emotional confessionals about the struggles and victories of the Tri-State area’s Jamaican diaspora. Throughout the project, the self-proclaimed ‘Half Yankee, Half Yardie’ deftly maneuvers between references to classic videogames and films (Blood Smoke & Mirrors, At Will, Rare Breed) and reflections on the importance and meaning of relationships (Shanice, Reciprocate) all with an uncut dose of battle-hardened bars tying the record together.