MUSIDREVIEW TEXT BYJOEL MARASIGAN mr >WE HIT HARD...LIKE IKE TURNER

THE PLATFORM ry lesson on the "language" of the DJ. "Head 2 Head" mimics a boxing match where Dialated Peoples/Capitol Records Spinbad and Rev exchange battle-dj blows. If that isn’t enough, 13 emcees and six True hip-hop lyrical skills and world-class turntablism are what entitle , ’tablists team up to help assist in eight of the 20 inspiring tracks. This is a must- (Iriscience) and DJ Babu are about, as they explore the surface of hip-POP without have LP. Revolution has caused one. fearing contamination of their years spent accumulating underground credibility. Their NuGruv.com first release—a crowd-rocking, emcee jaw-dropper—"Work the Angles" surprisingly Wakeupshow.com takes second-stage to cuts like "No Retreat," and "The Shape of Things to Come." Courtesy Cheapshot at Score Press Moreover, the inclusion of B Real, Tha Alkaholiks, , Planet Asia, Defari, White E. Ford (Everlast) and Phil Tha’ Agony furnish just enough aural trickery to make you UNDERGROUND RAILROAD believe you bought more than The Platform’s 16 tracks. Open your eyes, Dilated Masterminds/NuGruv Alliance/Ground Control Peoples is like a dime surrounded by pennies—smaller but worth much more. New York’s Oracle, Kimani and Epod, the Masterminds, come to collect with this Dialatedpeoples.com debut LP and with bars from L-Fudge, Mr. Lif, J-Treds, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Mr. Hollywoodandvine.com Complex, J-Live and EL-P combo’d with the production of Mr. Khaliyl (of the Bush Courtesy Cheapshot at Score Press Babees), come packed with explosive beats and sword-sharp lyrics. Their creativi- ty is expressed in "2025," a sci-fi story where the last rapper in 2025 goes back to CATER TO THE DJ 2005 to defeat Mr. Ill. While "Joints 2000" flexes a dis session that would please Fat Jack/Celestial Recordings Chino XL, "Memories" weaves a lyrical tribute to past personal events. This is no Roll call…Good Life and emcees assemble! School is again in session. East Coast "shoot-your-bitch-up" album—this is true hip-hop emceeing where word Let’s get it out of the way—many of hip hop’s lyrical styles are derivatives of the ones play is the canvas: "You’re as soft as Pikachu on rufies in a bathtub…" That’s damn found in the underground. Fat Jack’s phat tracks, at times, take the spot- soft. light away from Aceyalone, Ellay Khule, P.E.A.C.E, Volume 10, & Tribe Masterminds-nyc.com Unique, Medusa, Ganja K, Awol One, , J-Smoov and Phoenix Orion—a few that [email protected] come to represent L.A.’s finest for Cater to the DJ. This 39-tracked, double-disc (vinyl, NuGruv.com if you’re lucky) successor is a continuation to the line of the visionary project releases Courtesy Cheapshot at Score Press set by the /Project Blowed/Mass Men—an addictive series that baits biters into bastardizing its styles. Cater to the DJ is a compilation that will hit NEW AND UPCOMMING RELEASES triple-platinum in your discman. Remember: All movements begin underground. Hear ALBUM RELEASE SCHEDULE Binary Star – Water World where it’s coming from. 09.00 [september] [Terrorist/Nu Gruv] Celestialrecordings.com X-Ecutioners – X2 [Loud Records] Chino XL – Revolutionary Courtesy Magaling at Urbanite Xzibit - Restless [Loud Records] [Warner Brothers] Glaze NY – [Colombia] Cocoa Brovaz – [Duck Down] Divine Styler – Wordpower 2 [Mowax] IN 12S WE TRUST 10.00 [october] Imani Of The Pharcyde DJ Revolution/NuGruv Alliance/Ground Control Funkmaster Flex – Funkmaster Flex Kool G. Rap – [Rawkus] In 12s We Trust is the album that will be respected by b-boys forever. It puts all trends presents Big Dog Pitbulls Lord Finesse – The Underboss in pop music that utilize token "DJs" to shame—especially that riot-inducing insult Ali Vegas – [Colombia] [Penalty] Pharcyde – [Delicious Vinyl] "Blaine the DJ Barbie." Revolution’s 15 years of , dedication to the hip-hop ANTICIPATED ALBUMS Planet Asia – [Capitol] backbone and knowledge for the history of the art are the combinations that spell Zack de la Rocha (of Rage Against the Shabaam Sahdeeq – [Rawkus] respect. His unique storytelling skill is accentuated through his turntablism and DJ Machine) – [Epic] Styles Of Beyond – [Ideal/Mammoth] skills heard in "Communication"—a cut featuring a rearrangement of words, phrases Bilal Bashir – Bilal's Delicacies and combos-upon-combos of various scratch techniques ultimately providing a histo- [Good Vibe/Atomic Pop]

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