Coming from Company Flow’s DJ / producer, Mr. Len brings the first single from his forthcoming production album, Pity The Fool. While the production on “This Morning” might put the average listener to sleep, a closer listen reveals a brilliantly crafted masterpiece. Low-end bass, plus an array of hidden samples (including Bobby Digital’s mating call), [cont.]

While I like Prozack and Marc Stretch – two nice, sincere guys – they’re not exactly lyrical geniuses and you know what? Cool with me. This Bay Area pair keep knocking out entertaining hip-hop that knows how to have fun without taking themselves too seriously (PUTS’ problem) or being a tad too silly (Ugly Ducking’s [cont.]

Almost like “Off The Books”, “Watch Out Now” is Beatnuts in classic form.. The flute constantly piping throughout the song, along with the sister’s warning to “watch out now” simply makes this one a must have… Hopefully, the album will stay on this vibe… “Turn It Out” is like some Latin Stone Crazy material with Greg [cont.]

Now that the excellent Lootpack album has finally hit store shelves, prepare yourselves for Quasimoto. Don’t tell nobody, but what Quasi actually is, is a different persona of the Lootpack’s Madlib, so essentially, this is the first taste of another Lootpack project. “Microphone Mathmatics” has the helium induced emcee, over some SP-liced jazz samples, cutting up [cont.]

Second single from Rah Digga’s forthcoming Dirty Harriet full length. “Imperial Remix” features Digga and Busta trading verses rasta influenced production, and a repetitive keyboard loop, ala Swizz Beatz. B-side gives “Do The Ladies Run This” gives more wanna-be Swizz production with the classic chant that the title hints at. Rah, Eve and Sonya Blade each [cont.]

As much as I’ve tried to like Cormega (and honestly, it hasn’t been too much of an effort), I still think he’s yet another Mobb Deep  knock-off who’s trying to come illmatic but jams up in the chamber. “Take Mine” has a vaguely likable, stripped-down minimalist beat but what can you do with verses like, [cont.]

“Hardware” is the first single off of Black Thought’s upcoming solo project. Emerging out of a murky cellar of sounds provided by DJ Krush, The Roots front man rockets the vibe up through the roof. Mostly, his flow just hammers with the track, but he’s actually playing with one too many punchlines and it’s not [cont.]

“When The Fat Lady Sings” reunites GZA/Genius and DJ Muggs, after their stellar performance on the first Soul Assassins album. This one gives Muggs orchestrated sound, which has been more prevalent on recent Cypress Hill releases. The structure of the song is pretty basic, but what subtracts from it is the lack of a hook - instead, [cont.]

I’m not sure if Lord Digga is actually a part of this group, as he is featured on both sides – “King Kong Niggaz” is a pretty obvious thug anthem, and the production may turn a few underground cats away, but you can’t deny the chemistry between Lord Have Mercy and this track. His low pitched [cont.]

Lead single to the new Blackalicious album on MCA, Blazing Arrow features Dilated Peoples? Say word! “Passion” is a great, positive anthem, sporting the usual heavy drum production that Quannum is known for. Surprisingly, Rakaa-Iriscience makes a great sparring partner for Gift of Gab on this track, more so than Evidence would have, actually. A four star record; DJ’s [cont.]

Afu Ra’s track record on 12″s off his LP has been a little uneven. The first one, with “D&D Soundclash” and “Mic Stance” was blasting like a .44. “Defeat” wasn’t even a .22 – more like a slingshot with a broken rubber band. “Bigacts Littleacts” fits in somewhere halfway. The two sides are split between [cont.]

From what I understand, this group, Epitome is made up of two members of Kali Wild, Oh No & Sauna, which is kind of confusing, raising the question as to why Stones Throw didn’t just market this 12″ as Kali Wild. Nevertheless, with Madlib’s production behind it, “Maximum Adrenaline” is the return of his Likwit sound, as some [cont.]

While I haven’t been the biggest fan of Boot Camp Click material of late, Ruck and Rock bring back some of the bombastic, banging flavor that the BCC used to be known for. “The Crab Inn” bounces along with PF Cuttin’s old school inspired track as the R&R flex a two-man rhyme weave with a humorous story [cont.]

After having seen his fellow Canadians rock it to the top (Choclair, Saukrates, Kardinal Offishall), Marvel finally returns to drop a 12″ for the T-Dot. “Throw This Ball” has a questionable hook – sh*t is just a little corny – but I can’t front on the slow-tempo, lumbering beat by Saukrates. And Marvel comes in with [cont.]

The Masta Ace comeback tour continues with one of his better 12″s. While the “Ghetto Like…” concept has already been flipped by everyone from Kardinal Offishall (“U R Ghetto When”) and Jay-Z (“So Ghetto”), Ace does a decent job with some clever lines: “I’m ghetto like them chicks that hate Kobe’s white finance/who want to try to [cont.]

Remember Yard Massive? That was the Bay Area underground crew who introduced you to Planet Asia last year. Also a part of that crew is Turbin, who brings his solo debut on DJ Fingaz’  Certified imprint. “Wide Open” sports an ill trumpet sample, along with a snippet of Craig G on “The Symphony”, while Turbon [cont.]

Acting as the first release from the eclectic label formerly known as Solesides, Lateef the Truth Speaker, Lyrics Born, and the rest make up the Quannum emcees on their all new debut. “Bombonyall” is possibly one of the dopest records that these cats have ever produced. While it’s obviously a bit more accessable to wider [cont.]

How is it that Defari’s best songs are for anything except for his own album? I don’t mean to hate but let’s face it – Focused Daily left most of us in a blurry haze (and not in a good way) but every other song Defari’s dropped has been butter like biscuits. Don’t know who [cont.]

Acey’s one of those MCs who could easily coast by strictly on the strength of his reputation but he never seems to take the lazy way out. It’s no secret that I’m a fan, but that’s because every new song I hear him on, he’s coming with some next sh*t. Take “Accepted Eclectic”,, the lead [cont.]

Afu Ra’s larger clan, first name-checked by Jeru The Damaja back in the day, finally turn up on record. I don’t have enough details to pinpoint everybody but “Doin’ It” starts with Afu on the verses – nothing new that you haven’t heard from him but it’s pretty good by his own standards. JahDan backs him up [cont.]