These debut tracks from MadFro are laced with wah-wah pedals, catchy choruses and popping snares. Vocals come courtesy of Slangston Hughes, a well-known local emcee and host of the Uniquity monthly showcase. Matched nicely with the band’s steady funk, his steely flow features touches of the Roots’ Black Thought, and the Philly group remains a good benchmark for aspiring funk/hip-hop outfits. The present EP gives a strong foundation for the kind of creativity necessary to make such fusions truly unique. MadFro could switch gears a little more often, but there’s a healthy energy here that should translate well in a live setting. Slangston has a sense of humor, using the slogan “feeling good, looking good,” in a chorus for Pert Plus that rhymes “Get your motherf—ing hands up” with “no damn dandruff.” The nods to Hendrix and the strong imagery on “Middle of December” close the EP with a fine break-up song. “Long roads, rough splinters, smooth floors, and short tempers.” More nuances will serve the band well as they build off this encouraging first draft.