I’ve always cut LMNO some slack because while I don’t always like his flow, he at least stays true to it rather than trying to switch up styles ever two weeks like others. LMNO is one of those take it or leave it MC’s and there’s no good reason why I’m willing to champion him further [cont.]

I’m definitely a fan of Saul Williams after hearing the stuff he’s done for various compilation albums, as well as his performance in “Slam”. It’s his sarcastic, commandeering tone and attitude, which really makes you want to hang on to every word he spits – no matter how off-beat. “Penny For A Thought”, immediately grabs [cont.]

The unstoppable tag team of Clifton Santiago and Keith Televasquez, (otherwise known as Motion Man & Kool Keith) are finally gearing up for a full-length project, after getting mouths watering with “Partnas Confused”. Backed by the production of Kutmasta Kurt, you can expect things to be a little more light-hearted than the stuff found on Keith’s [cont.]

Working as the b-side to “Cold As Ice” (excellent choice for a third single), but I don’t know about this one. I loved the original “Ante Up”, but the “Ante Up (Remix)” is just kind of sloppily thrown together. The appearance from Busta Rhymes literally ups the ante (pun intended), adding even more energy to this [cont.]

I’m still a little suspect on whether D12 will be able to hold their own on a full-length album, (titled Devil’s Night) but if it’s anything like “Shit On You”, they shouldn’t have a problem. I like this song for so many reasons, first and foremost because it’s raw – and the way they’re running it [cont.]

Buc Fifty teams up with The Alchemist once again for his latest single on Battle Axe. “Metal’s Advocate” features a track very similar to Buc & Al’s last collabo from the Defenders Of The Underworld LP. This time Al incorporates samples from the movie, Devil’s Advocate, to match Buc Fifty’s humorous stick-you lyrics. “Permanent Scars” teams up [cont.]

Either the Pharcyde decided to bite into the Hieroglyphics’ rhyme scheme or it’s the other way around but on “Trust” they do a mighty good impression of their Northern Cali peers in certain moments, especially on the funkdafied original mix. It’s good to hear these guys back up in the spot, and they pull it off [cont.]

I really liked these guys’ last 12″ (“One, 2″) enough to stick it on my mixtape (and not to sound self-aggrandizing but that must mean I REALLY liked it). This new one only confirms what I thought the first thing – their sh*t is tight. “Live Ordeal!” flips up some raucous guitars and smashing snares for [cont.]

Chalk this up as my vote for one of the hottest indy 12″ singles of the year. It’s usually assumed that when a dope emcee comes out and blows up, the labels do everything in their power to snatch up their lesser-talented homies, which usually end up bad albums, and sometimes even bring the artists [cont.]

After reinventing himself on Gang Starr’s “The Militia”, Bumpy Knuckles, aka Freddie Foxxx brings his first solo 12″ since his new found freshness. You can’t go wrong with “A Part Of My Life”, as DJ Premier provides another track with his signature sound. “Devious Minds” has Bumpy over a Beatminerz joint… While it’s nothing super conceptual or even [cont.]

I’m not going to front – I like this two-EP project even if I wasn’t one of the DJs named on the “Just Tryin’ To Make Friends With Your Deejay” (note to Atmosphere - I better be on your next installment). While it’s the type of hyperactive, self-enthused hip-hop that just screams “midwest” and/or “white”, there’s [cont.]

I’m not going to front – I like this two-EP project even if I wasn’t one of the DJs named on the “Just Tryin’ To Make Friends With Your Deejay” (note to Atmosphere - I better be on your next installment). While it’s the type of hyperactive, self-enthused hip-hop that just screams “midwest” and/or “white”, there’s [cont.]

You may remember Krumb Snatcha from Gang Starr’s quotable “Make Em Pay” off the Moment Of Truth LP Or you may remember last years’ Snatcha Season EP, featuring the wonderfully DJ Premier produced anti-guns anthem “Closer To God”. Bringing it back in ’99, Krumb delivers some of his most solid material yet, most notably, “Killer In [cont.]

After a year-plus break, Company Flow (minus Bigg Jus) return to scene with El-P’s trademark aggro-electro steelo. Ill Bill joins El-P on the obtuse, fun crushin’ “Simian D aka Feeling Ignorant” while “Simple” is anything but as Co Flow gives your noggin a hard knock with the lyrics that lets the beat damage it further. No less [cont.]

The Network Reps return for another 12″ on Nervous … Leading this one off is the Punch & Words featured “Yeah”, which is a different mix than the one found on your Superappin’ compilations. While Shawn J. Period’s new mix is nevertheless still fresh, the original still has me on lock, with that ill ass [cont.]

“Ka-Ching” just reminds me how very, very rare artists like De La Soul and Gang Starr are. Like Brand Nubian, their careers have survived the times but this new 12″ finds Sadat X doing some bling, bling, hoes and b*tches bullsh*t while De La and Gangstarr have maintained integrity AND excellence without pandering to the trendy sh*t. No [cont.]

Coming from the In Too Deep soundtrack, and also working a the buzz clip for the upcoming Method Man & Redman album, America’s Most Blunted is “Tear It Off”. Erick Sermon ups the ante from his usual style, putting the BPM above 100, as Meth and Red see how high they can get once again. Givn [cont.]

At the risk of sounding blasphemous, I just wasn’t feeling Reflection Eternal’s last 12″ (“Express”). The production felt off and even a little uninspired and Kweli doing braggadocio just isn’t as good as him moralizing. Insightful lyrics – even when heavy-handed – usually edge out middle of the road ego flexin’. “Move Somethin’” is neither [cont.]

Coming from the U.K. production team’s forthcoming album, The Creators bring their first star-studded single. Mos Def & Talib Kweli bring “The Hard Margin”, sporting deep, low-end production of which Mos and Kweli mesh with perfectly. Given its spaced out vibe, this one may go over the heads of some, but those willing to take a deeper [cont.]

I honestly thought U-God would up the ante a bit for his solo project, but “Bizzare” is pretty standard. Nothing too exciting here at all. The track is kind moving, along with the Wu-Tang Clan flavor. It sounds like it might be attempting to get some club / radio play, but U-GodÂ’s lyrics are too complex to [cont.]