DJ K-Salaam - Real DJs Do Real Things Mix CD. It has been a while since I have listened to a good mixtape or CD. In fact I was just at Fatbeats, NYC and couldn't find anything half decent. Little did I know that I have been sitting on one of the best Mix CDs I have heard in a long time. Aside from the turntable skillz that K-Salaam displays this CD brought me back to 95' hip hop. I stopped buying Tony Touch CDs ever since he got signed to Tommy Boy because I saw a change in his track selections. Once was a day when you could get a mixtape that was full of indie artists that only the underground headz would feen for, nowadays I see mixtapes and CDs with a lot of 'majors' and even some commercial tunes on them. Are real hip hop DJs dead in 2002? Not as long as there are DJs like K-Salaam behind the 1s and 2s. Check out just a sample selection of the tracklisting: Mr. Lif, Arsonists, Organized Konfusion, Jehst (UK), D-Stroy, LMNO, Living Legends, ... The list goes on. The other thing that stood out for me listening to this is the political edge he has introduced. Listen to the hooks in the intro and the fresh spoken word at the end by Suheir Hammad. I only wish I could say I paid $15 bucks for this CD so I can then say it was the best $15 bucks I have spent on music this year. It has its share of cutting and juggling but not too much to drive you nuts, the blends are lovely and I especially enjoyed the way he worked some classic breaks in his mixes. 4.9 out of 5.0 if I had a rating scale. (Rhymesayers Entertainment).

Talib Kweli - Quality LP. This will be Talib Kweli's solo debut LP to drop on Nov 19th. It will feature Cocoa Brovaz, Mos Def, Planet Asia, Res, Busta Rhymes, Bilal, Shock Body Rockers, Common, Black Thought and Pharoahe Monch. Production will come from DJ Scratch, Dave West, Megahertz, Kanye West, Ayatollah, Rockwilder, Alchemist and The Soulquarians. Peep video for Waiting for the DJ w/ Bilal. (Rawkus Records).

7L & Esoteric - Dangerous Connection LP Boston's best rappers. Dangerous Connection features tracks produced by 7L, Kutmasta Kurt (Kool Keith, Dilated Peoples), Stoupe (Jedi Mind Tricks) and Beyonder with guest appearances from J-Live, Count Bass D, Vinnie Paz (Jedi Mind Tricks) and Apathy. The ultimate emcee and dj pair, Esoteric’s confident flow and 7L’s skills for days make them a force to be reckoned with. (Brick Records).

Supastition - North Carolina based rapper Supastition’s debut album, "7 Years of Bad Luck" will wake up the masses and prove that he is one of the best pound for pound lyricists without a doubt. Garnering production from his long-time friends and producers Hood, Equinox, Eyebrow Productions (Eagleman and Double S), Freshchest Prose (JL & Johnny Cock) and Soul, this album will also display the production talents of Sarcastic (the name Supastition also uses as a producer.) (Freshchest).

People Under the Stairs - O.S.T. LP. (Original Sound Track) Episode I Flash Movie. Coming June 2002 (OM Records.com)

Soundbombing III - Mixed by Cipha Sounds & Mr. Choc. Review Coming Soon. "The Life" by Styles P feat. Pharoahe Monch Video Clips: Windows Media Player 100 K | 300 K : Real Video 100 K | 300 K. (Rawkus Records)

Blackalicious - Blazing Arrow LP. Critical acclaim often doesn't sell records. Many a group have been lauded as revolutionary, "cutting edge" and embarking on something new and different only to be lost in the shuffle of pop mania. Let's hope that with Blackalicious's fourth release "Blazing Arrow" that critical acclaim turns into financial success for this amazing crew. The long overlooked underground tandem (who have been named by many a peer as the latest hip hop crew since ultramag to not receive enough credit) finally have scored a major label release and they took the ball and ran with it. While Nia definitely stated a purpose, Blazing Arrow covers all facets sonically, and conceptually. The mighty Chief Xcel brings a very funk and soul feel to this album, solid production all around. As usual Gift of Gab shares his amazing flow and slightly left of center lyricism that grabs your attention.

From the jump you get the feeling this is a special album as the intro sets us up for the feel good vibe this album creates. Gift of Gab touches on life and provides inspiration to those who need it with cuts such as first in flight, make you feel that way, Passion (featuring Rakaa of Dilated) and green light: now begin. As an emcee Gift of Gab's personal and powerful content breathes maturity into this album. On Chemical Calisthenics Gift of Gab picks a new concept to flip like no one else, the periodic table. He just might of missed his calling as a guest on Sesame Street or 3-2-1 contact as he breaks down the entire table and weaves in and out of different chemical compounds, and reactions as his flow rides the constant twists and turns of Cut Chemist's schizoid rhythms. It almost sounds part spoken word.

Guests on this album include poets Gil Scott Heron and Saul Williams, folk singer Ben Harper, Quannan crew Lyrics Born and Lateef the Truth Seeker, Charlie2naJaguar Wright, and Dilated peoples. The best track on the album is 4000 miles as Gab, Charlie and Lateef break down what music means to them and the impact it has. Another must hear track is Paragraph President as Gift rips This album has a little of everything but it's interwoven in a way where there is cohesion and not just 17 tracks put together. Blazing Arrow could be a metaphor for upliftment, enlightment, a beacon of hope and happiness in a world seemingly too busy with the things that are not important. However you want to slice it though, Blackalicious brought forth a fun, musically fulfilling album. (Quannum Projects)

Afro Classics - Scarub and Very LP Review Coming Soon. (LLCrew.com)

Variable Unit - Seven Grain - They merge dub, hip hop, jazz, classical, alternative and soul perspectives. Yup. That’s a lot of genres. and they’re pulling it off in a genius manner. Just check the talent involved in this collective: Ron E Beck, the drummer. first-call sessionist in the 1970’s, he worked with greats John Lee Hooker, Carlos Santana and Clifford Coultier, before settling in with funk icons tower of power. Kat Ouano, the keyboard player. Remember that mission: disc on insidious urban i sent you last year? Same girl prodigy. She also played with the Broun Fellinis. Matt Montgomery on upright bass. well. Cmon what’s cooler than an upright bass? DJ Zeph on the decks. Maybe you’ve checked his release on wide hive from last year. Improvisational approach that kills everytime. Jon Birdsong on trumpet and tuba. He performs regularly with Beck, Beth Orton and Victoria Williams. Ben Conrad, the “Sixth Man” on sound engineering. And then check the producer, Gregory Howe’s sick signature of closing the gap between record production and live production by initiating a series of live issued product events—wide hive performances which are recorded, mixed to CDR, duplicated and packaged during the performance. (Score - Trevor)

Dan the Automator - Wanna Buy a Monkey? LP World renowned producer and beatmaking mastermind Dan The Automator releases his first mix CD, made up of tracks he has either previously produced or remixed. Artists include Depeche Mode, Bobby Digital, Brand Nubian, X-Ecutioners, Redman, Gangstarr, Lovage, Sigur Ros, Del la Soul, & more. (Girlie - Sequence Records)

Swollen Members - Bad Dreams LP The highly anticipated second album from the groundbreaking hip hop duo of MAD CHILD and PREVAIL from Vancouver, BC. Guest appearances from Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Dilated Peoples, Planet Asia, Son Doobie, Buc Fifty, Moka Only, DJ Revolution, and DJ Babu, along with beats by the Alchemist, Evidence, Joey Chavez, Kemo, Rob the Viking, and Nucleus. (BattleAxeRecords.com)

Juggaknots - Generally LP. Aiming to reclaim their place among hip hop's greatest lyricists, Bronx legends BREEZLY BREWIN', BUDDY SLIM, and QUEEN HEROINE return with a brand new EP of world class mic-rocking magic. Three smoking new tracks of socially aware, deeply thought, and painstakingly crafted goodness featuring production by SMOKE SIGNALZ to push it even further. (Matic Records)

Music From the Corner - Volume 1. UK hip hop artists "Task Force" have compiled a mini-album of tracks written and performed by Farma G and Chester P. (Low Life Records)

Masta Ace - Disposable Arts LP. The first new album in over five years from major-label-frustrated hip hop powerhouse MASTA ACE. A twenty-five track bang-a-bomb concept album of dynamic and insightful hip hop, rocked as a part fictional, part autobiographical journey into the life of the album's fictional main character, ACE. Includes vocal contributions from GREG NICE, KING TEE, LESCHEA, PUNCH & WORDSWORTH, JANE DOE, JEAN GRAE, STRICK, and APOCALYPSE. (JCOR Entertainment)

NAS - Stillmatic LP. Has Nas lost his street cred? Well, ever since I saw him on the "Hate Me Now" feat. Puff Daddy video I had lost some faith. It's funny how fast talented artists can go 'jiggy' when the money ante is upped. I don't want to be a hater though and will say that there are some Vintage NAS gems on this album like "What Goes Around" and the DJ Premier produced "2nd Childhood" track. The opening track "Ether" is a strict battle track about the ongoing beef with Jay-Z. The track "Rewind" is a story of a murder told in reverse, I wasn't really feeling the beat on this one but the originality and storytelling ability from Nas brings this track to life. Track 7 "One Mic" starts off really chill then builds to a climax and ends almost in a whisper - again just like a movie Nas is able to control your emotions on this one. (Columbia Records)

Freestyle Fellowship - "Temptations" LP. The long-awaited album from legendary Los Angeles hip hop pioneers Freestyle Fellowship - Aceyalone, Mikah 9, Self Jupiter, and P.E.A.C.E. 15 solid tracks of top notch lyricism from some of the best MCs in the left coast. Guests from RBX and Abstract Rude. No Sleeper. (Trevor - Score)

Gershwin The Bassline Excursionists - "Sunch Punch" 12" (B9022). Gershwin, also known as the Bassline Excursionists (B.X.L.), is a bunch of cats from L.A., California. The collective consists of Grey Area, Malky and Moly, The Magic Rhyming Men, BLX Street Team, DJs See Brown, Perv, and producer ABCDEFG. On this 12", "Boma Ye" and "Bounce like Tigger" are hot! Crazy flows over flavorful beats gotz the head-nod approval. This is a DJ must-have joint! "Sunch Punch" 12" has 'cipher-friendly' instrumentals. - M. Madriaga. (Brick 9000 Records)

Roundtable MCs - Table Manners EP (B9023) The Roundtable MCs are Mike Czech, Wick, and Unite. They formed in 1996 hailing from San Diego, California. I first heard of these cats freestyling on one of Mike Czech's mixtapes. This EP is rough, rugged, and raw - straight underground, fermenting Cali shit! "Table Manners" and "Steady Rockin' Remix" are definite hot joints! The EP got 'cipher-friendly' instrumentals. Dope shit! - M. Madriaga. (Brick 9000 Records)

Five Deez - "Stupid" B/W "Chilly Most" 12" (B9024) The Five Deez (Fifth Dimensions) is a hip-hop collective hailing from Cincinnati, Ohio consisting of emcee/producer Fat Jon and his partner emcee/dj Pase Rock. This 12" is soulful and soothing. The joints are laced with dope lyrics and cool hooks. The production is lovely. Beats are dope. There are no hooks on the instrumentals making it 'cipher-friendly' for the writers and MCs. - M. Madriaga. (Brick 9000 Records)

Ghostface Killah - Bulletproof Wallets LP. Review Coming Soon. (Ryan - Sony Records)

Dilated Peoples - Expansion Team LP. The Dilated Crew composed of Iriscience (Shakka), Evidence and DJ Babu returns with their sophomore album filled with guest appearances from Defari, Joey Chavez, Premier, Beatminerz, Tha Liks and Black Thought on the production and lyrical tip. This album displays a more mature sound from Dilated and showcases Evidence not only as an MC but also a beat maker. The first single "Worst comes to Worst" has even gotten some love on MTV 2 and is in heavy rotation on my decks. Speaking of "Heavy Rotation", Tha Liks track is a definite head banger. (Cornerstone - Capitol Records)

Grand Puba - Understand This LP. Anyone remember Puba back in the late 80s when he was with a group called Masters Of Ceremony? Then he was down with Brand Nubian (Derek X and Lord Jamar). Gotta remember the Nubian joints "All For One", "Wake Up", and "Slow Down" from their first album. If you were too young or lost some memory over the years then you fo sure remember the classic joint "What's The 411" with MJB. Now that you understand his veteran status, Puba has been in the game over 13 years and made this a business now for himself on his Rising Sun Records. Track 8 "What's up wit it" with Sadat X and Tiffany is my fav. joint. Puba lyrics show not only his history in the rap game with "Been making classic joints/ way before the Source/ No ice/ maybe just a little bit on the wrist" but that he has paid his dues the hard way - "Never got no rotation on MTV" and "I rock with a crooked tooth." (Koch Entertainment)

DMX - The Great Depression LP. DMX gives us a little look into his mind with his spoken word intro "Sometimes" but that light poem turns into a dark landscape coated with anguish and struggle. The signature raw flow by DMX on "Who We Be" is my favorite track - "The new charge, the bail, the warrant, the hole". Track 15 "You Could Be Blind" with Mashonda is anotha banga - Swizz created a sick string melody loop that had my head swaying along with Moshonda's catchy hook. (Def Jam)

Mixmaster Mike - "Spin Psycle" LP. Not just a mix CD but a journey through Mike's astral-mind with Beat Juggling routines and his signature Noize scratches. This CD can't be compared to the "Anti-Theft Device" album as "Spin Psycle" is more of a mix tape and not a Mix Master Mike album. His turntable wizardry appears through out the CD especially on the joint with Qbert "Cosmic Assassins". (Moonshine Records)