Finally free of the Columbia/Sony machine, Northern State teamed up with producer Chuck Brody of Shitake Monkey and Adrock from the Beastie Boys and recorded an album for Ipecac Recordings. They pushed the limits in terms of what Northern State can sound like, with their classic old school hip-hop sound weaving it's way through a new electro-rock current. They did an unprecedented amount of singing and they are fortunate to have some talented friends like Mr Murray Hill, Kaki King, and Katie Cassidy stop by and play on the album. When it was finished they named it, CAN I KEEP THIS PEN?