2005 all-stars

The living legends are a true hip-hop supercrew. Their roster is nothing short of ridiculous in the who's who of west coast indie hip-hop, and when you consider the strength of their individual discographies this album Classic lives up to its name. When you peek under the hood you'll find production by Madlib, cuts by DJ Icewater, Sunspot Jonz, MURS, Scarub, Eligh, Arata (Osaka represent!), Bicasso... the talent runs deep. They've clocked in some 50+ releases collectively, and this LP -- recorded in Maui (on stolen shores / we wrote these poems)-- unites them for a hell of an opus. Monster hip hop collabos usually end up being a mess, but this one comes off smooth and satisfying as hell. You can [buy the CD] now.

The best thing about this LP is that it offers a broad appeal. All the headz, backpack nerds, tru-thought hippies and even more mainstream hip-hoppers will all find something tasty in here. the production is top notch, and from Madlib's broken beats to the jazzy, vocal production on this track, it doesn't dwell too long on any of the cliched styles that can sink an album. The real strength on this LP is the all-star cast of emcees - they kill on every track. You want tag-team vocals (a la Five Deez, Latyrx, etc)? You want insane, playful rhyme schemes? You want melodic, rapid cadence? You want the best of LA and the Bay Area?

You got it.

So go [get it]. Anyone that's ever enjoyed a single hip-hop track by anyone from Outkast to the Five Deez to the Fellowship will find something in here.