Whoever said progress was a slow process unknowingly made the statement with Curren$y in mind. The N’awlins rapper’s rise to present day adoration comes after the self-proclaimed “Hot Spitta” broke bread with No Limit and Cash Money Records before branching out on his on accord permanently in 2007. His latest smoke break, Pilot Talk, is a culmination of a staggering three year run which included countless (and acclaimed) mixtapes and two albums. It also serves as the result of budding relationship with Dame Dash and the realization of an artist who appears to be at the peak of his creative independence.

The shining and most respectable aspect regarding Curren$y’s music is the perfected laziness it encompasses. Never too animated or hype, the J.E.T.S. founder doesn’t stray far from his roots as the flight lifts off with the relaxing and insightful “Example.” Wasting no time, even the album’s opening attraction seems to embrace his own long rise to the top with bars like: “I am an example/Of what can happen when you quit being afraid to gamble/Shook the dice and rolled/N*ggas like you woulda stayed shook and froze. The journey into the stoner’s most ballyhooed release continues with the quirky, yet big records “Audio Dope II” with its minimalist, steel drum-n-bass arrangement and lead single “King Kong.” Both show an aggressive Spitta obviously comfortable in his role as one of the more looked at and anticipated artists of the current day.

Sticking largely to the same blueprint which got him to the dance, Curren$y doesn’t reinvent the blunt or offer any groundbreaking idioms but his candid personage gives each track something to look forward to (See the fruits of Ralph Macchio’s good life as described on “Breakfast.”). Ski Beatz dominates the in-flight musical selection with spacey and lethargic rhythms obviously intended to accompany brain-frying sessions. The Big K.R.I.T. and Smoke DZA assisted “Skybourne” provides the euphoria of being in a paradise of broads and bud and “The Day” with Jay Electronica and Mos Def, plants more seeds that Curren$y’s proclamation will likely become a 2010 (or ’11) reality.

Make no mistake about it, though. Cannabis still does impair judgement and Pilot Talk’s toxins still amount to a few somatic effects. Arguably the album’s most entertaining moment, “Chilled Coughpee” with Devin The Dude, may have the most glaring discrepancy. The carefree, horn heavy track clocks in at slightly over two minutes leaving fans with the munchies for a more extended duet. Another disappointing feature, “Seat Change” isn’t quite the marijuana medley you would expect from Curren$y and Snoop Dogg, with Tha Doggfather’s verse straddling the fence of decent and average. And from a positioning standpoint, “Address” and “Life Under The Scope” feel as if they would have been better suited swapping track numbers.

Once Pilot Talk prepares for landing, there’s concrete evidence a smooth flight has just taken place. Curren$y’s love affair with being fly, living above the clouds and pretty women continues and should largely go on to define the remainder of his career. For the stoners of America and across the world, this album will come as a pleasant addition and welcomed soundtrack for your lifted adventures. For everyone else, Spitta creates a sound album whose strengths—a relaxed flow and signature cadence—help disguise the flaws of having one dimensional subject matter at intervals. Without looking too deep or expecting higher learning, it’s best to practice what Curren$y preaches and Just Enjoy This Sh!t.