On the Mini-Mini-Me 7", Deru collaborates with rappers for the first time, turning in sides featuring two Bay Area giants whose work has inspired the downtempo instrumentalist: Casual (Hieroglyphics) and Gift of Gab (Blackalicious). Casual turns "Spliff" into a celebration of his preferred method of getting high while on "Bad Bad Man" Gift of Gab drops his characteristic deep-voiced tongue-twisters over a vicious beat. Without vocals, these tracks wouldn't be out of place on Deru's albums. With verses by these two legends, however, Mini-Mini-Me stands apart from the rest of the producer's catalog.
