Self-described as the overqualified but underappreciated blue-collar suprheroes of Hip-Hop, the X-Cutioners (formerly know and revered by turntable enthusiasts world-wide as the X-men) are Rob Swift, Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse and Roc Raida. Counted among the best of the new breed of DJs elevating turntable art to the next level, they are also concerned with the place of this artform in the history books, as they fight to keep "the original brick that built the house of Hip-Hop from crumbling under years of abuse and neglect".

'X-pressions' documents the next generation of turntablists, continuing the tradition of Bambataa, Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash. Moreover, 'X-pressions' eloquently expresses the X-cutioners' talents as legit musicians, producers and composers as they create worlds of sound - a phat beat, a hook, even soloing as one would a sax or guitar - with the hand, the eye and the vinyl groove.

Check out the groups as a four piece ensemble on Get Started, The Countdown and Mad Flava. or zero in on the individuals at work: Rob Swift fusing his scratching ad libs with the rhymes of MC Grudtyme on Musica Negra (Black Music). Mista Sinista as he crafts an entire song - verses, hooks and beats - out of bits of other records on Word Play. Roc Raida re-uniting with the E-Bros (whose previous collaborations included the highly succesful soundtrack for "New Jersey Drive") in Raida's Theme, a song that harks back to the days when MCs paid tribute to their DJs. Other lyrical treats include Turntablist Anthem, a jazzy throwback featuring vocalist Anikke, with Rob Swift riffing in the background à la Lester Young, and One Man Band, a poetical insight into how DJs like Roc Raida think about their music. 'X-pressions' opens the door to a world of new possibilities in hip-hop music. Listening to it would lead to believe that, had he grown up in the hip-hop era, John Coltrane would have been a DJ.

Redman (New Jersey native Reggie Noble's blunted alter ego) once again unleashes his trademark Mary Jane-tainted lyrical madness and funkadelic relic beatology on this, his fourth solo effort. Joining Redman for the journey are the usual suspects: fellow Def Squadians Erick Sermon, who supplies the bulk of beats, and Keith Murray. Both of them join Redman on the tag team rap Down South Funk. Busta Rhymes, Wu-Tang's Method Man and slick soulster Dave Hollister also make appearences. In supreme Redman tradition, the beats are thick and rich, a veritable chocolate shake of groove, oozing over his bugged-out, rugged linguistics.

Red wastes no time jumping into the funk on Doc's Da Name 2000 as he waxes poetic à la legendary hustler Lightnin' Rod on the opening track Welcome 2 Da Bricks, a streetwise spoken hommage to Newark, N.J., introduced over a heavy beat. This bleeds seamlessly inot Let Da Monkey Out, a stripped-to-the-bone, Sermon-concocted low-end rumble, which ominously throbs under Red's distinctive verbals. I'll Bee Dat injects cell phone noise, sounds of inhaling, "aahhhs", and ethereal vibes into the sonic mix creating a mesmerizing funk melee. Get It Live flexes the braggadocio angle with Redman guaranteeing "hardcore funk for three months" over bass rumble and distorted scratching snippets. On Jersey Yo! Red lifts the funky riffs originally used by Ice Cube on "Once Upon A Time In The Projects", and while the lsinky guitar bobs and weaves, he reflects on his self-declared weed habit and the off-the-hook antics he has performed while under the green haze. Elsewhere, Close Ya Doorz is a solid posse cut featuring fellow Brick City mic wielders (Double O, Tame, Diezzel Don, Roz, Gov-Mattic, and Young Z), all of whom hold their own with Redman; I Don't Care sees Redman in a serious hardcore stance while fellow boodah enthousiast Method Man joins in on the fun on Well All Rite Cha, and Busta Rhymes turns up for Da Goodness, which rolls with a nifty yet twisted Flamenco meets spy vs. spy guitar lick. Finally, Redman reprises his long-running Sooperman Luver scenario on Sooperman Lova IV, a tasty, slow grind slice of funk.

At a whopping 24 tracks, FDoc's Da Name may be a little too much for new jacks toswallow, but longtime Redman fans will not be disappointed. So sit back, relax (spark one if you like) and listen to some hip-hop from Da Bricks baby.

Sen Dog rejoins Cypress Hil's attempt at locking their fans into an album that will re-engage the enjoyment experienced from past ones like 1991's classic self entitled debut or Black Sunday. On their first release for 1998 titled Tequila Sunrise, remixes featuring Fat Joe as well as the album version is vintage mix-show material. The mariachi-sounding guitarra guitars and brass horns sweeten this intoxicating beat and bassline that will definitely sink nice in your car stereo on a freeway's clear lane. A definite gift from Muggs, this is cut most lyricists will kill to rap over.

DJ Muggs, as usual is relentless with furthermoreproductions ranging from the typical East Coast underground format, to the headbanging uptempo tracks, to the creeping drive-by grooves of California. For instance on Prelude To A Come Up, it starts out on a low volume creeping its way to a normal level as MC Eight kicks off words made of gunpowder. The chemistry invoked from his tones and B-Real's, all against the back-drop of Muggs' dark piano loop creates the prfect score to a serial killer's ongoing murderous path. If you remember multiple appearnaces on the Lollapalooza and Smoking Grooves Tours in the past, this musical bong of cuts like Audio X, will cloud your brain with those repetitiousguitar licks that keep your head swaying and swinging on a high. On a more playful note, Dr Greenthumb emphasisez the magnificent potential that B-Real's high pitched tones may have in becoming household material in the animation industry: "Greenhouse effect with the weed connect/ DEA can't the Greenthumb in check/...God bless the whole crop, please God don't let me see no cops/ Trunk loaded ready to hit the highway/ Don't let the INS guy fly my way" Of course skits in 'real' animation intorduce this one.

The simplified nursery beats filles with symbolic horse-squeals and sirens characterize their sick level of entertainment. But the album's strongest cut is it's opener Looking Through The Eyes Of A Pig, a grim, depressing, yet realistic depiction of what goes through the mind of an L.A. police officer. Get high for the fourth time, you'll definitely feel it.

Ghetto people and hip-hop loyalists, your dreams have become reality. After droppin' classic albums such as To The Death and Firing Squad, M.O.P. (Mash Out Posse) is set to bomb the hiphop scene with their highly anticipated fourth release First Family 4 Life. Billy Danze and Lil' Fame once again stay true to the streets, never to sacrifice street credibility. With DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz, Lazy Laze and M.O.P. on the production tip and lyrical veterans such as Gangstarr, O.C., Freddie Foxxx and Jay-Z displaying their microphone skillz, First Family 4 Life is letting all wanna-be playas and rappa-dons know what straight-up ghetto music is all about.

On the opening salvo Breakin' The Rules, produced by beatwizard DJ Premier, the dangerous Brownsville duo lays down the rules of the Hip Hop game over snapping snares and truncated whistles, with Primo doing the tracks chorus. Other Primo tracks include I Luv, featuring rap O.G. Freddie Foxxx, Downtown Swinga '98 and Salute II with Gangstarr's G.U.R.U. effortlessly blending his own distinctive styles with Fame and Billy's adrenaline-induced vocals.

Displaying their own production skills as previously on the Soul In The Hole-soundtrack with the funky-horn filled Ride, M.O.P. continues holding it down with joints like the Brooklyn-pride anthem Fly Nigga Hill Figga, Down 4 Whateva with O.C. delivering lyrical assistance and New York Salute. Not all tracks consist of Fame and Bill screaming on cornball-n*ggaz, releasing deadly salvos of hardcore street-rhymes. The majestic Blood Sweat And Tears focusses on the struggles and hardships the duo have endured over the past few years, while dropping some introspective thoughts on What The Future Holds.

With First Family 4 Life, M.O.P. has delivered their most compelling work yet and demostrates that they are as devoted to their music as ever and will continue to proudly wave the banner for pure, straight-up, undiluted, harcore hip-hop.

After droppin' the Premier produced single Closer to God, that could be found on Stretch Armstrongs first hip-hop underground compilation, things got a little quiet round Krumb.Expectations were high after the single rocked clubs nationwide, Unfortunately the album left me with some dissappointment. Although it contains a few decent tracks like

This Rawkus mixtape-like compilation album, mixed by DJ Evil Dee features some of the finest underground MCs of today's hiphop world. Among these gifted artists are Ra the Rugged Man, Shabaam Sahdeeq, L-Fudge, Talib Kweli and rising star Mos Def. One of the most impressive lyrical displays on this album is the Mos Def and Kweli freestyle, which has a beat with a nod factor rating 9 on the scale of NOD.

Two other joints that definitely rank top on the 'Phat List' are Show Me Your Gratitude, performed by L-Fudge which features some cool scratches by host Evil Dee. L-Fudge returns on one of the dopest tracks on this gem, What If and is lyrically backed up by some of the new underground talents such as Shabam Sahdeeq, Mike Zoot and Skam. Check ths sh*t out cause this is underground Hiphop at it's peak!

It has been in the air for the past year, but the storm has arrived this summer: El Nino is here! Heralded by the Release of EPMD's reunion album earlyer this year, the Def Squad is now finally ready to rock your funky @ss like a hurricane.

Squadron leader Erick Sermon, together with his associates Redman and Keith Murray, have delivered a, kinda short, album full of headnodder tracks, drippin with funk, like the bass driven Say Word!, and the boombastic "Countdown" featuring Jamal and a Labi Sifre sample, just recently resurrected by Jay-Z. Though the beats are primarily club swingin bombs, riding the same vibe of Sermon's R&B-ish remixes for the likes of M.J. Blige, SWV and LL, the Squad still ain't frontin' on the lyrical, and continue to provide us with some more metaforical madness. Like on Check n' me out, on which they challenge any half ass MC to try and test.

Eventhough some 'traditionalist' hiphop fiends could argue that some tracks ride over-used and played out samples, most die-hard Sermon & EPMD fans must agree that the Green Eyed Bandid and his henchmen have once again succeeded in creating an entertaining album full of Phat funk flavored dancefloor hits, that could make even the grimiest thug get up and boogie.

Highly anticipated, the Lyricist lounge has finally arrived, to bring relief amongst all you Lyric Lovers. The Double-CD features established artists like KRS-One, O.C., Ras Kass and Q-tip, as well as upcoming underground talent like Talib Kweli, Mos Def, Mike Zoot and Punch & Words to create an ode to true Lyricism.

Disc 1, hosted by Dela Soul, features the first single "Body Rock" by Dela affiliate Mos Def featuring Q-tip & Tash of Alkaholiks fame, which showcases these coast-to-coast MC's in peak condition. However, it's newcomers like Punch & Words, Prime and Cipher Complete who really rip sh*t on the lyrical. Special credit goes to O.C. & Ras Kass for their Simile filled ode to butta-shorties and Word a' Mouth for their hilarious battle-joint "Famous last words". Excitement is brought on Disc 2, hosted by Kool Keith and Rawkus signee Sir Menelik, with the collaboration of female Wordsmiths Bahamadia and Rah Digga who stress the fact that "Female rappers gon' be OK" and Oldskool crew Jurassic 5 who attack your eardrums with a killer flute-loop. But the most honorable mention goes to the B-side of the first single by Talib Kweli who's Manifesto is a must for any just-out-the-womb MC, and of course the 2nd single which teams up The Teacher KRS, Rage-rocker Zack DeLa Rocha and Unsigned hype winner Last Emperor who lash out at America's Central Intelligence Agency on "C.I.A.".

Even though the lyrics sometimes overshadow the production (or the other way around) and the fact that some claim that the album-highlights could have been jammed on one disc, this testament of real rap is most definitely a must-have for any Hiphop Fiend. And I didn't even mention the ciphers.