The first solo set by KRS-One on his own – maybe a bit of a surprise, given that he was really the driving force and main voice of Boogie Down Productions after the first album – yet one that also gives him a chance to spotlight some new wisdom and a growing sense of identity! The set has KRS working with some great producers – DJ Premier, Showbiz, and Kid Capri – while also doing plenty of production on his own – all at a level that seems to only intensify the sound and increase the sense of urgency in his music! That quality really comes through on the timeless cut "Sound Of The Police" – maybe even more powerful now than when it was recorded – next to other classics that include "Outta Here", "I Can't Wake Up", "Black Cop", "Stop Frontin'", "Uh Oh", "Hip Hop Vs Rap", "Brown Skin Woman", and "Return Of The Boom Bap". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best debuts in the history of hip hop – and one of the most important albums the genre ever produced! Criminal Minded is landmark for a number of reasons. Among the biggest is, of course, that it was recorded with the late great DJ Scott La Rock – and he was soon to fall prey to the very street violence that BDP documented with such raw brilliance, courtesy the lyricism and delivery of KRS-One. Importance aside, though, Criminal Minded is simply a great, timeless record that no true fan of gritty classic hip hop should be without. The track list alone is a full chapter in the hip hop book of legends – with tunes like "Poetry", "Elementary", "South Bronx", "Super-Hoe", "Bridge is Over", and the "P is Free" remix. Also includes "Criminal Minded", "Dope Beat", and "9mm Goes Bang". LP, Vinyl record album

A well-done duo set from Masta Ace & Edo G – nice and lean, and served up with a sound that really recalls the decade from which they rose! The production has all these great little twists and turns – straightforward beats mixed with cool use of electronics, odd samples, and other bits that are never overdone – really just the right sort of flavoring to enhance the album's strong focus on the lyrical skills of the leaders – plus guests who include Large Professor, KRS-One, and Posdnuos! Titles include "TV Night", "Hands High", "Fans", "Rocsi". "Reminds Me", "Good Music", "Pass The Mic", "Hot Wangs", "Dancing Like A WG", and "Here I Go". LP, Vinyl record album

Das EFX's third album finds them holding down a more jam-packed approach than ever before – longer by half than their previous LPs and with a strong sense of purpose! Das EFX appeared with such a unique rhyme style, by this point they really needed to balance the tasks of being recognizable as as the hard-hitting duo with the distinctive approach to rhymes, without relying on it as a gimmick, and here they largely succeed – with production from Premier, Showbiz, Easy Mo Bee, Klark Kent, DJ Scratch and more. Tracks include "No Diggedy", "Represent The Real" with KRS, "Microphone Master", "Hold It Down", "Bad News" with PMD, "Real Hip Hop", "40 & A Blunt", "Ready To Rock Rough Rhymes", and lots more! LP, Vinyl record album