Various Artists

Editor's Review:

The long-awaited Urban Renewal full-length very well may be the dopest hip-hop compilation to hit shelves this year. Crafted by the cream of the independent crop, this 14-track collection not only features good MCs and producers like Jel and Dose One (collectively known as Themselves), but also a nice sampling of burgeoning electro-jazz artists, namely Cibo Matto's Miho Hatori and Tortoise. The Definitive Jux label is well-represented by tracks from Aesop Rock, Mr. Lif and El-P, who appears as both an MC and a producer, as well as Rjd2, whose "True Confessions" is a massive, neo-orchestral and chillingly amazing piece of music. Oakland natives and Hieroglyphics crew members Souls of Mischief step up with the Rjd2-produced "Spark," and DJ Food comes correct with the album's surprise hit, "Aerosolilique." This release is available in a nice, fat triple-vinyl edition (and also on CD, too).
- Max Sidman

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Record Label Chocolate Industries Entertainment Released September 2002

Tracks Prefuse 73 - Radio Attack Pt. 2 Aesop Rock - Train Buffer Interlude by Caural Mos Def & Diverse - Wylin Out Diverse - Time Mr. Lif - Wanted Souls of Mischief - Spark Rjd2 - True Confessions Interlude by Prefuse 73 While - Haze Pt. 3 El-P - Deadlight DJ Food - Aerosolilique Pts. 1-3 Interlude by Via Tania Miho Hatori - Night Light Tortoise - C.T.A. Caural - Our Solstice Walk Interlude by Prefuse 73 Themselves - This About The City Too

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