Elucid and Milo always sound great together. In the Milo albums released before Nostrum Grocers, the tracks featuring Elucid, "Going No Place" and "Landscaping", were both highlights. While it could be said that both rappers exist in the same abstract lane, their styles and work are quite different. Elucid's projects tend to be on the darker side, which is fitting for the rapper's grimy voice. Conversely, although Milo's work is by no means sunshine and rainbows, it is relatively less aggressive and often features playful humor that would be out of place on an Elucid record.
The two emcees are cryptic and compelling on Nostrum Grocers. There are plenty of savory lyrical nuggets. Elucid opens proceedings with a verse that references the current political climate in "Circumcision is the First Betrayal" ("Ima let the white boys shoot it out, 'cause I ain't' got the time" / you can't call yourself an ally if we don't"). Later on, the emcee asks what a world without police would be like in "Camera" ("What does a world without pigs look like? / New myths, who lives, who dies, who shifts, who thrives?"). Milo is equally lyrically dexterous but often less serious, comparing himself to poets and actors on "Where’ing Those Flowers" right after Elucid finishes a stern verse that questions the contingent of supposedly Pro-Black men who disregard the opinions and issues of their fellow women ("So-called God blather about nation building ad nauseum and never once mention black women"). On "Thermometer", Milo, who has never been hesitant to admit that rapping is his fulltime job, ruminates on the tenuous nature of his profession ("Catastrophic Rappers need business insurance / the vision gets blurred / Cookie-faced and paranoid trying to buy a high chair / Trying to buy more time on Earth to avoid the job fair").
The beats, which were handled by both rappers, are tastefully subtle and leave sufficient space for their lyrics to shine. Keys and pianos are abundant. The ominous "Peace Is The Opposite" is built around glitchy keys and "Thermometer" is based on a hypnotic jazzy loop. Beautiful warped harp sounds plod along in "Milkdrunk". A low-key but strong combination of beats and rhymes makes Nostrum Grocers 29 minutes of quality left-field rap.
