With its sophomore effort, L.A.’s Connie Price and the Keystones have become the latest funk/soul act to enlist MCs to compliment its sound. And on almost all accounts, the cast of top-notch, mostly West Coast guests thrives, rhyming atop the rich, cinematic productions of CPK’s Dan Ubick and Co. No doubt, these beats can be enjoyed vocal-free on the accompanying instrumental version of this album. But it’s hard to pass up Project Blowed’s Mykah 9 unleashing his melodious flow on the uptempo soul track “Highlife,” or Blood of Abraham getting globally conscious on the chill dub track “Pirates.” Tell Me Something is the rare live hip-hop project where neither the MCs nor the band gets outshone. Max Herman