One of the most consistent independent hip-hop crews as of late has been Swollen Members. With their album just about to drop on American recently dropping, the crew brings an underground compilation on two pieces of wax on their own label, Battle Axe.

Del The Funkee Homosapien wins for having the phattest track on this album with “Hoe!”, an amazing self-produced track that picks up right where “Catch A Bad One” left off. A close second place goes to The Arsonists, who blow your mind with “Fat Laces”, a track that was left off their own album for some unknown reason. On the sleepier tip are abstract gems from Aceyalone (“Super Human Hip-Hop Head”), and Pep Love (“Trinity Lost”). Swollen Members bring two joints left off of the LP, along with new contributions from Son Doobie, Moka Only and Psycho Realm.

Reappearing are “Bottle Rocket” by Swollen with Evidence, Everlast, and Divine Styler, “Get Off My Elevator” by Kool Keith; “Work The Angles Remix” by Dilated Peoples; the obscure “Skills” by Mr. Brady and Evidence; and the singles, The Alchemist produced “Worst Enemy” by Buc Fifty, and “Cooking Up Your Brain” by Defari. Nerds may find this annoying, but the average head, who doesn’t buy everything that comes out, will find it convenient.

While the compilation does contain a few undesirables, and a few we’ve heard before, some of the newer contributions are so dope, that this wax is almost essential for DJ’s.