| The Unusual | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | El Da Sensei |
| Cover: | The Unusual.jpg |
| Genre: | Hip hop |
| Label: | Fat Beats |
| Prev Title: | Relax, Relate, Release |
| Prev Year: | 2003 |
| Next Title: | Unheard Of |
| Next Year: | 2008 |
The Unusual is the second solo studio album by American rapper El Da Sensei. It was released on February 28, 2006 via Fat Beats Records. Recording sessions took place at Pete's Crib, Big Trouble In Little China Studios, Safe House Studios, It Is What It Is Studios and Madd Bass Studio in New Jersey, and K-Hill Studios in Durham. Production was handled by Fusion Unlimited, Illmind, J. Rawls, 3rd Rell, DJ Revolution, Frequency, Fyre Dept., Jake One, K-Def, Money Mark and Saukrates. It features guest appearances from O.C. and Sean Price.
Tame and El's graf-rap was well received by underground audiences and continued in the New Jersey rap tradition of Redman and Lords of the Underground.[1] The group developed a fan base of hardcore hip-hoppers, being graffiti artists and hip-hop purists.[2] El Da Sensei latest album is a continuation of the first two Artifacts albums. According to El, the album "stands for true hip hop."[3]
El has said that the possibility of an Artifacts reunion are low, considering the relative success he and Tame One have had since both going solo.[4]
The Unusual was met with generally favourable reviews from music critics,[5] [6] considering the El Da Sensei's lengthy hiatus. Steven J. Horowitz of PopMatters resumed that the rapper "manages to present his album with intelligent proportions, and like a fine wine, he will only get better with time".