Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

An album that collects the cream of a new wave of hip hop that proves there is still some life left in the genre. However, there are still plenty of people who think to spin a loop and let loose into a microphone makes a good track. Me? I'm not totally convinced. I am still looking for something a little more creative so (his compilation is a little patchy in places but worth checking out for the good bits! One of the highlights is "Countdown (5,4,3,2,1 Remix)" which combines some fun musical and sampling touches with the interplay between Mark J and Ambassador. "Sound Doctrine (4 Man Relay)" employs a neat little string figure while Corey Red & ADF do their stuff. For a complete change of scenery the scratching employed by DJ Skillspinz on "Scratchalicious" does the business for me! Top track! I also like the pop feel of the closing "Dang (Decaf Remix)", and the presence of Knowdaverbs and GRITS on "Call Of The Dung Beetle" adds a certain class to the proceedings. So this E Roc compiled collection of the best American emcees has some cool moments. Worth checking out!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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