The debut album from Fashawn, and a set that became an instant indie classic in the world of underground hip hop – proof that even amidst the big aughties years of billion-selling street-themed material, there was still room for smart, thoughtful, well-crafted material! The production by Exile is perfect for the set – as sensitive as Fashawn's rhymes – and there's an approach here that really hints at some of the directions that Cali hip hop would take in the following decade, but with less of the languid feel of that era – and maybe a nod back to the best boom bap of the 90s, but in a mellower way. Titles include "Freedom", "Hey Young World" feat Aloe Blacc & Devoya Mayo, "Stars", "Life Is A Shorty" feat J Mitchell, The Ecology", "Our Way" feat Evidence, "Samsonite Man" feat Bly, "Bo Jackson" feat Exile, and "Boy Meets World". LP, Vinyl record album

Detroit's Guilty Simpson teams up with Philly producer Small Professor – with appearances by Boldy James, Statik Selektah, AG, Castle & Euclid – plus remixes by DJ Revolution & Zilla Rocca. Production wise, it's got a lot a dense beats and off-kilter, though walloping percussion – with eerie synths and other elements giving it a foreboding vibe. It's a nice fit for Guilty's tough, no nonsense flow, and the titles include "Get That Pay (Scooby Mix)", I'm The City" feat Boldy James & Statik Selektah, "It's Nuthin" feat AG, On The Run" feat DJ Revolution, "Go" feat Castle & Elucid, "Get That Pay (OG Mix)", "The Easiest Way (Remix)" and the vinyl bonus track "Go (Zilla Rocca Remix)". LP, Vinyl record album

A nicely expanded version of the great debut of The Juggaknots – one that adds in lots of bonus material to the original track list, and lets the group get reborn in a way to go head to head with all the sprawling triple-length projects of the early 2000s scene! The production work is great – very much inherited from a Native Tongues legacy, but given a special spin by the trio – who may well be one of the few brother acts in hip hop – a vibe that resonates strongly with mid 90s New York elements, but uses a nice current of wit to modulate some of the harder elements. Titles include "Romper Room", "Watch Ya Head (rmx)", "Trouble Man", "Jive Talk", "Loosifa", "Come Along", "Luvamaxin", "Clear Blue Skies", "Projections", "Sex Type Thang", "You Gotta Do One Of These Songs", "I'm Gonna Kill You", and "Up At Stretch & Bob". Features four bonus remixes too! LP, Vinyl record album

The great solo debut of Big Noyd – an MC who'd gotten an earlier hand up from Mobb Deep, whose Havoc and Prodigy really help out on the set! Part of that help was due to the fact that Noyd was behind bars while the album was in process – but his contributions here are key, really echoing that energy he brought to his appearance before – and set up with that nice sense of darkness that Havoc could bring to his production! The approach is great – leaner and less full of itself than west coast work that might hit similar territory – and titles include "The Precinct", "Recognize & Realize", "All Pro", "Infamous Mobb", "Usual Suspect", "Episodes Of A Hustla", and "I Don't Wanna Love Again". LP, Vinyl record album

A 90s album from the farther reaches of the Wu-Tang empire – a set that still shares some qualities with the core members' solo efforts, but which also maybe stands apart more in the tone of MC La The Darkman! The rapper ended up in Atlanta, and there's a quality here that maybe hints at that move in his music – harder and more street-styled than most of the Wu-related projects – trying to tell it like it is from the grass roots, but reveling in that experience as well. Production is by Havoc, Carlos Broady, Rza, 4th Disciple, and DJ Muggs – and guests include Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Masta Killa, Havoc, and DJ Rogers. Titles include "Lucci", "Shine", "City Lights", "What Thugs Do", "Heist Of The Century", "Fifth Disciple", "Spring Water", "Street Life", "Figaro Chain", "Polluted Wizdom", and "Wu-Blood Kin" LP, Vinyl record album

With Nonamenko on "Altitude", produced by Marco Polo. 12-inch, Vinyl record