Let's just get one thing straight, first and foremost: this is not the album I wanted to release. Between time constraints, a general lack of production experience (on my part) and some outside pressures I won't go into, I ended up cutting a LOT of material. That said, I'm comfortable enough in the material that's left to release the rest. Moreover, I absolutely LOVED making this album, and I want to share it with the world, warts and all. The artists I worked with are phenomenally talented, and I'm feeling great about the work we have planned for future releases. On that note, I can't begin to say how gratified I am to the people in my life for making this project come to fruition, especially so quickly. From initial concept to completion, this first half of a double-EP has come together in a staggeringly-short, whirlwind four months, during which all of the collaborators had jobs, families and lives to attend to. It's also very important to me to stress to fans, friends and family that this album is a commemoration of me completing my fifth year of sobriety. I truly know how addiction is one of the most powerful forces in the universe, and I have seen first-hand all too many times how it can destroy a life. I am immensely appreciative of the people who have given me the strength to undertake this journey that completely transformed my life from utter failure to a story of success: my mom and dad, brother and sisters, my many mentors, and to Dianne Zabor for setting me on this path initially. If you or anyone you know or love is suffering from addiction of any kind, please do you and him or her a favor and confront it immediately. There's no excuse to wait: life is too brilliant and magnificent and worthwhile to lose to these distractions and destructions. If this is you or someone you care about, please check the resources at Recovery.org for guidance. Thank you to everyone who has helped to make this achievement of five years of sobriety a reality. As destructive a force addiction is in the universe, I believe music can be equally positive and uplifting, and at the very least, can serve to get the conversation started. Especially so, thank you to Dan DelPercio, Omar Safi, and their very understanding wives Kasia and Susan, without whom this album would never have been possible. -- SmaBoi ("Crates")