Similar Albums:
- Artist:
Various Artists - Release Date: October 31, 2000
- Type: Collection (various artists), Compilation (best of)
- Genre: Rap
Review
If you're down with progressive hip-hop and aren't hip to the sounds of the collective formerly known as Solesides, you need to check out this two-CD retrospective. DJ Shadow, Chief Xcel, and the Gift of Gab (aka Blackalicious), Mack B. Dog, and Lateef and Lyrics Born (aka Latyrx) are among the finest artists in Bay Area hip-hop, laying the groundwork that forms the foundation of the West Coast alt-rap scene. With a cratedigger's attention to detail, you can hear Shadow's skills all the way back on 1993's "Entropy," while Blackalicious' dextrous lyrics on 1994's "Lyric Fathom" are evidence of the clique's trademark abstract expressionist rhyme style. For those who have followed the Solesides crew's careers, there are plenty of unreleased cuts, rare B-sides, and remixes here to make this a worthwhile investment. For those who haven't, freestyle throwdowns like "Lateef's Freestyle" and posse cuts like "Blue Flames" are ample evidence that this is one of the most potent crews in hip-hop. ~ Bret Love, All Music GuideTracks
CD 1
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Intro (Lyrics) | (:33) | ||
| Rhyme Like a Nut! [#] | Gift of Gab | (3:50) | |
| Entropy | DJ Shadow | (4:26) | |
| Lyric Fathom | Blackalicious | (3:50) | |
| The Wreckoning | Lateef the Truth Speaker | (4:56) | |
| Asia's Verse [#] | Lyrics Born | (1:33) | |
| Deep in the Jungle | Blackalicious | (6:50) | |
| Hardcore Hip-Hop [Instrumental] | DJ Shadow | (4:44) | |
| Send Them | Lyrics Born | (4:00) | |
| Swan Lake | Blackalicious | (5:41) | |
| Lady Don't Tek No | Latyrx | (3:38) |
CD 2
| Track Title | Composers | Performers | Time |
| Latyrx (Last Chance to Comprehend) [#] | Latyrx | (1:58) | |
| Say That | Latyrx | (3:37) | |
| Freestyle Rapping | Lateef the Truth Speaker, Gift of Gab, DJ Shadow, |
(7:04) | |
| Rhymes for the Deaf Dum and Blind | Blackalicious | (2:09) | |
| Entropy (Part C: Count and Estimate) | DJ Shadow, Gift of Gab | (3:22) | |
| Fully Charged on Planet X [Edit] | Lateef the Truth Speaker, Gift of Gab, |
(3:41) | |
| The Quickening | Lateef the Truth Speaker | (5:05) | |
| Hot Breath | (1:35) | ||
| Balcony Beach | Lyrics Born, |
(5:13) | |
| Lateef's Freestyle [#] | (2:32) | ||
| Blue Flames [#] | Quannum | (15:03) | |
| [Untitled Track] | (5:27) |
