O-D.U.B.: San Jose's premier hip hop band makes good. What I like about these guys is that their music is really comfortable. It's kind of hard to explain without listening to it, but it might make more sense then. The 12" is cool, with three remixes and a flavorful, upbeat B-side in "Some Say We're Spanish" which is my fav. track off this 12". Cool.

O-D.U.B.: A really, really, really nice beat. Lotsa of deep keys and just a mellow ass piece of music. I dug it. I wasn't as impressed by the remix though. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Rasheed's remix is smooth, crossover and a waste of my listening time. The only real things to like about this 12" are the instrumentals to "Word Play" and " The Jam" but even then, those two were not the best cuts on the album. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: YAWN!!! Damn, when did posse cuts get so f---in mediocore. It's like since people put five big name MCs on a 12", they just assume that sh*t'll be dope...instead, sounds like everyone got lazy and assumed the next man would rock it instead. Bleah.

O-D.U.B.: How many posse cuts have a dozen MCs in only 4 minutes? This remix is, in the immortal words of Rakim, "hyper than a heart attack" as each MC gets about a bar or two to jump in, throw down, and jump out. I kind of dug it...it definitely had some energy to it and while the No concept got a little on my nerves by the end, it still worked for me. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Both sides features decent production but somehow, the rhymes just don't keep up. Even the B-side, by Black Forest, goes 12 MCs deep but it still feels shallow. Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: Call me crazy, but I kind of liked this cut. It's not super-sophisticated, but DJ Rectangle's simple beat works, as do the lyrics from Da 5 Footaz. Very enjoyable, though I suspect not everyone's gonna like it as much as I do. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Clear Lake Auditorium part 2? Yup...another promo only ditty by Tommy Boy and De La Soul. The tracks you already have: "4More", "Supa Emcees", "Baby, Baby, Baby...". The tracks you don't have:

4More Juno remix: More soulful, more smooth, but not mo' better.

Stakes is High Spinna remix: provided, Spinna's getting a lot of work of late, but this isn't one of his better jobs. I would have preferred the UK remix.

Sweeet Dreams: aka Dreams of the Funky Towel. The standout track on this EP...sure it flips the same chorus from the Eurythmics that Nas used, but I'd rather have "Sweet" vs. "Street" anyday. The song is irreverantly funny, and just a pleasure to listen to. Classic De La. Look for this to get bootlegged or imported for sure. The bomb.

O-D.U.B.: Worth picking up b/c: 1) It's a DJ Shadow 12". 2) It's a DJ Shadow 12" feat. Gift of Gab reciting poetry. 3) It's a DJ Shadow 12" feat. Gift of Gab reciting poetry in be tween parts of the song that sample some old Seals and Crofts. When's the last time you heard THAT in a hip hop song? That's what I thought. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: It's the next 12". Two new songs on it, plus an extended remix of "Stem" itself, which Shadow has noted to be his favorite track on the album. N/A

O-D.U.B.: He certainly has been there, done that. I thought that phrase applied to the beat and lyrics on this 12". Not a bad cut, but Dre should be able to do better. Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: Mercer did a more in-depth review a while back, but I just heard it myself. I'll make it short: it's worth picking up. I think the production is better than his older stuff, and lyrically, well, it's still Ed OG. Know what I mean? Still, a good EP, in any case. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Another solid 12" by Frakenstein. Don't let the R&B chorus on the A-side fool you, the cut's cool. The B-side is more so...produced by Day, it's got definite head nod/party appeal. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: H O T. This sh*t f---in cooks. Same beat, but the MCs absolutely rip it. The only noticeable exclusion was Phife...not sure why, but otherwise, both Plugs 1 & 2 set it off, Q Tip contributes lovely and Mike Diggy and Afrika Bam hold their on as well. Definitely a must have 12" for any Native Tongue fan and for anyone who just appreciates a killer cipher. The sh*t.

O-D.U.B.: Both the original mix and remix are nice, though different. Erick Sermon's LP mix has that typical E funkiness to it, but it works. The Ummah remix is smoother and I really dug that better, though both cuts are good.

Yeah's not a bad posse cut...nice head nod beat by the E...and one of the exceedingly rare posse cuts that sounds decently good. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Already? A new album? Sh*t, well, hell, why not? This 12" feat. 3 new cuts off the new album and 2 of them are slamming. "The MC" is the best of the bunch, with that Blastmaster flow that just hits at the right moments. "WordPerfect" is good too...a nice rumbling beat and an intro by KRS that cries for some DJ cutting. Brrriiiiing! You have to hear it to understand. The only track I didn't like was the first one, which, surprisingly, DJ Muggs produced. It just wasn't exciting to me, either musically or lyrically. The sh*t.

O-D.U.B.: Even if the A-side didn't use the same beat as De La's "Dinninit", I'd still be a little lukewarm on the A-side. "Hard" was the big surprise b/c I really didn't like it at first, but now it's grown on me. The beat is a couple of years outdated, but it still works despite. The real disappointment was the fake remix of "Mad Scientist" which I'm assuming is a promo thing. What's up with that? In any case, while this was a good 12", it's not making me salivatate for the album anymore than the last single did. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Hmm...I thought Leschea rhymed, not sang? Well, Ase One's beat on this cut isn't that impressive, neither is Leschea herself. Where's Paula Perry on the real? Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: Out of the entire Solesides crew, I think Lyrics Born is the one that qualifies for "an acquired taste" award. I think he's incredibly creative, but not always accessible due to his unorthodox lyrical style. "Balcony Beach" is just...weird to me, but in a good way. The track is very vibe-y...kinda hypnotic. The B-side is where he kicks it on some ol' rockin' funk mode. Give it a couple of listens and you'll get pulled into it as well. Solesides keeps shinin in the twilight of 1996.. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: God forbid, but I actually like the Bad Boy remix. I swear this sounds crazy, but isn't that the beat from "Baby, Baby" by Amy Grant in the background? Whatever...a solid party cut for the Lyte. The Milk remix is vibe-y and kind of nice too. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: It first caught me, but it's now lost me. The lyrics just aren't that strong even if the intro chorus stands ground pretty well. Sh*t just sounds like it's a dime a dozen, you know? Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: This review might hold for the whole entire new album, but what's new? This is a good 12"...as good as we've come to expect from Mobb Deep, but damn, I've heard something new from t hem every month since their LAST album, or so it seems. "Front Lines" doesn't get me any more excited than "Drop a Gem On 'Em" or "Still Shinin"). Mobb Deep does what they do well, but I want to hear some progression and all I'm really picking up is the milking of a good formula. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Redman produces this new female MC...and it's not a bad 12" when you get down to it. She's a bit like Heather B, i.e. comin' with that hardcore style. Not bad, not that good. Just about "in there". Same goes for Reggie Noble's beat. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Their second EP is much like their first. This time around, I think beats and rhymes are better...you still get that gritty, 4-track-next-to-the-socks-rack feel to it. B-side features a cameo by a Japanese MC that serves as an interesting contrast in transnational styles. They might still be unsigned and hella broke, but they're still going worldwide. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: "Street Dreams"? I'd rather go De La style with "Sweet Dreams". At least I don't think Plus 1, 2 & 3 are fakin jax. The much talked about "Affirmative Action " remix is ok, but just too f---in easy. You give any group of MCs a chance to re-enact "The Symphony" and they'll sound decent. The original beat was much better. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Quite simply...one of the best 12"s out on a major right now. For one thing, the beat is on some high octane funk laden tip...it just blasts through. And Wise just rides it like a master, tearing lyric after lyric. It's easily the most powerful song on the new LP (unfortunately perhaps) and gets my nod for one of the dopest 12"s of the year. The bomb.

O-D.U.B.: Gee...is it just a mere coincidence that the female MC in this group sounds like Lauryn? Call me cynical, but the timing is just a little too close for me. She's not a straight c lone but I think you'll find bite marks on Lauryn's style here and there. Sorry to say, but Vmax has yet to impress me with anything I've heard from them this whole year. Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: Charlamagne produced this? Ugh, he needs to back to the Natural Elements. The A-side, which features Mr. Voodoo straight jacks its choru s from Da Fat Cat Clique's "Over Like a Fat Cat". The B-sides sound real typical of NYC "representin' the streets" type of lyrics and beats. Not that excited at all. Don't trip.

O-D.U.B.: Diamond D provides the remix to Soul on Ice...and it's on some black cowboys tip. Diamond just have dug in the crates and spent a fortune on old spaghettti west ern soundtracks cause he's getting pretty prolific with these cowboy beats, none of which I care for personally. Nonetheless, Ras comes cool with some punchrhymes, but I liked the original version better. The B-side is probably the worst track on the al bum, a clear aim at crossin over to the LA G-scene. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Solid production, once again by K Def. Where's this kid been hiding? Too busy producing for Da Youngstaz and sh*t. The horn scream is just too much. If you liked the beat on " Real Live Sh*t", you'll dig on this too. Larry Lar still isn't rockin', shockin' me yet but I was able to listen past that. The remix isn't as good, even if Capone and Tragedy cameo. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: I guess this had to grow on me. Just Ice's recyled beat works well for the Funk Doctor, but yo...wherever K Solo went off too in seclusion...he needs to go back and find his old f low. Has been taking testosterone supplements to make his voice so deep or what? Maybe smoked one too many packs of Newports, I dunno. Still, sh*t thumps, with that ba-dump, ba-dump. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Produced by Pete Rock, it's not a bad follow-up to his f--- dope ass "Worldwide." The chorus sample is taken from Nas (surprise, surprise) and all in all, it'd probably be higher on my list of fav. singles if it wasn't for the fac that I'd still rather play "Worldwide" given the choice. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: I will speak for everyone on this one: What's up with Lord Jamar? Puba and Sadat both came kinda nice, but Jamar sounded like he was snoozing on this one. I'm glad they didn't f--- with the beat and the hook which really makes this cut as dope as it is. Personally, I like the radio edit the best of the three versions, but this one ain't bad either. Not the best Brand Nubian reuinion I could have envisioned, but it's a good start. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Sleeper hit for me...I'm usually not impressed by what Ichiban usually puts out, but I think Spearhead X's production on both sides is what won me over. "Ruination " is the better of the sides, but both sides aren't bad at all. The lyrics aren't dazzling, but hold their own. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: The only thing on this 12" that I really want to talk about is the fat remix that Posdnuos does for "Why Oh Why", the basketball tribute song. Definitely a coupl e of notches more exciting than the original mix. Michael Franti's no Plug 4, but I've always like Spearhead for their creativity and this song's no exception. Cool.

O-D.U.B.: Two good songs, but really...what's up with no remixes? I'm getting kind of irked at Geffen and/or the Roots for not putting out any dope remixes. A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: Solid sh*t, through and through. Both songs, and their remixes are musically strong, especially the "Lights, Camera, Action" remix which just thunders along. Lyricall y, I really dig on Thurst's abilities...he's maintained good quality on his last two singles now. Support this sh*t. The bomb.

O-D.U.B.: Seriously, the only stuff I've heard from Tony lately is rumors about how bad his live show in the Bay Area was. So I wasn't too jazzed to get his new 12", but actually, I wa s pleasantly surprised. The beat is subtle, but effective. Tony's ok...I wasn't as excited by his performance here as I was on his year-old EP, but it was a'ight. Put 'em together and it's not a bad 12". A'ight.

O-D.U.B.: How this kid managed to land a contract based on the one style he knows how to do is beyond me. Neither side is that impressive, especially "Broken Language Pt. II"...the song that no one needed to hear happen. Don't trip.