Reviews (1)

Unbelievable
I've always been a fan of hip hop as an artform. Listened to artosts like dr. octagon, dj shadow and krush and knowing that this form of music had a great amount of potential. This cd made me realise that hip hop is in fact the most relevant and maleable form of music out there today. I picked it up on vinyl at a local store because of the shadow track. That track turned out to be very short and not all that great just shadow and cut chemist having fun with some brainfreeze type stuff. But as I got further into it I realized that it had a wealth of great undiscovered to me talent. The track by presage is phenomenal (by far my favorite on the album). It's a 10 minute long epic with amazing vocal samples and a shadowesque sound to the music. I ended up buying presage's outer limits cd because of this song and that too is a great cd. Also on this album are dj faust, the mammal, dj zeph and a host of others. I don't have the track list with me so it's a little hard to remember all thats on there, but it is a solid album with a prevailing theme: hip hop is reconstructing itself, watch out. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A fantastically Eclectic Jazz / Hip-Hop Fusion album.....
Although the idea of fusing 'Jazz' with 'Hip-Hop' is in theory nothing new (Hip-Hop artists have been using Jazz instrumentation & Samples for years, "Madlib" stunning "Shade of Blue" album springs to mind), It is as they say......all in the execution. And Bronx Based Turntablist 'Dj Logic' goes several steps further than merely lifting samples from the jazz world, and claiming to be doing something different. Instead he's made an album that feels more like an experimental jazz album that is far more a musical offering, than a Hip-Hop album of well placed jazz sounds.

It's probably best to start the review by mentioning that having an appreciation of jazz (especially freeform/leftfield jazz) will help immensely in your enjoyment of this album, and most people entering into this album for the first time, will find that although impeccably arranged, produced & bursting with more ideas than an album such as this has any right to, it's never quite immediate enough to win you over with the first listen. First track "Shea's Groove" opens with some energetic acid Jazz, that feels like straight out of a New Orleans jazz venue, with some turntable trickery laying a mid-tempo hip-hop beat (subtly incorporated), over a very prominent scratch attack that features throughout the track. Again the execution here feels seamless, and those expecting something groundbreaking will surely be disappointed, but those with a idea of the logistics of making these factors all work into a coherent whole, will be suitably impressed by its masterfully handled fusion of genres.

"Eyes Wide Open (But Dead)", ventures into more traditional Hip-Hop, and those slightly perplexed by the earlier songs, this will feel more familiar, Heavy on kick drum beats and vocal sample scratching, this actually injects the album with a healthy does of variety, and although jazz purists will bemoan its more commonplace Hip-Hop sensibilities, they would be advised that Dj Logic release is as much a Hip-Hop Turntablist album, as much as it is a Jazz-Funk album, and its inclusion is most welcome.

"USA Cosa Buena" underlines what makes this album so superbly realised, in the fact that it never confines or limits itself to just a couple of ideas, the 'Cosa Buena' in the title of the track should give you a fair idea to expect that the ideas here stretch as far a field as 'Cuban' music, and the Hip-Hop side of things most certainly take more of a back seat here, than on other tracks as the brass, Trumpet, conga & maracas & Tabla reference Cuban music around the Castro reign, and as such feels celebratory, summery & passionate, yet showing a underlining respect for Latin Music (incidentally, this track is one of a great many highlights on this album).

Much has been made of the beauty of track #14 "Spider Dance", and the vast majority of reviews highlighting this track as one of the very best, and even so far as to suggest that this track alone was worth the price of admission, I was sceptical to say the least, expecting the track to possibly fall slightly short of the praise heaped upon it. But amazingly not only was everyone completely spot-on with their assessment of this track, but (for me) it comfortably exceeds any high hopes I had for the track. Feeling like a sublime mix of down tempo electronica mixed with instrumentation samples, that just as a single are exceptionally well brought together, and stands as something unique in it own right. This truly doesn't feel like either Jazz or Hip-Hop, but a more a electronic-Soul (does such a thing exist??), and the utterly dreamy singing of vocalist 'Jennifer Charles' textures the song and gives it a depth & sophistication that the song just couldn't hope to realise without her considerable contribution.

Those considering purchasing this, and thinking it maybe along the lines of say "The Roots" or "A Tribe Called Quest" would be well advised to avoid this album, as those albums (although fantastic) merely reference Jazz in their construction. This is (as has been mentioned in the reviews below) quite a challenging listen, and repeated plays are the only way to truly get to grips with this album. Also those that appreciate fusion in its various forms (especially Jazz Fusion) are most likely to be this albums most likely customers, or even those that have a truly eclectic ear for music, will find this a refreshing change of pace, either way.....those with an understanding of what to expect from this album, will find one of a small growing band of supremely experimental Jazz/Hip-Hop cross-over albums, looking to push the musical boundaries.

very challenging
i got this album from a friend like two years ago. and i was very amazed that he was not stuck in one kind of genre. as a listener i listen from classical rock to oldschool,alternative rap, drum&bass to progressive trance and so... so i was asking this question to myself i was to make an album which genre would it belong to and i think DJ logic asked the same question to himself and said who gives a f..k about genre. so he made and album which is like an emotional rollercoaster.in the album there are some songs taht sould be listened and some just to be heard. very challenging and i would highly recommend this album.

Crazy Wack Funky
Great music. "Spider Dance" should have been on the Spiderman soundtrack! ... Read more

Album Description

UK compilation series supplies us withthe blueprint for modern rap and r&b music, joing the dots between 70's soul, the 80's rare groove revival and the 90's mass market hip hop albums. This combines the first two volumes in the series, repackaged with a bonus CD mixed by DJ Spinna. Highlights include, Love Unlimited Orchestra-'Strange Games And Things', Bar-Kays-'You Can't Run Away', Minnie Ripperton-'Reasons', Starpoint-'Bring Your Sweet Loving Back', Eddie Kendricks-'Girl You Need A Change Of Mind', Roy Ayers-'Life Is Just A Momemt Parts 1 and 2', Bobby Lyle-'Magic Ride', Rene And Angela-'Secret Rendezvous', The Sugar Hill Gang-'Passion Play and many more. Three discs, two of which are unmixed. Packaged in three gatedfold sleeves housed together in a deluxe slipcase. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

spinna spinna suger
the mixed cd was off the hindges (mr. spinna proves he's got the goods in his crates and on the wheels).. the unmixed cd's hold those same tracks in their entirety and are excellent for you to mix at your next party (if you dare).

pimpin the funkalicious
Great Album!! Can't say enough good things about it. If your into smooth funkalicious grooves from the 70s this is it! This album was in my CD player for the whole summer! Great album to have ... while cruising around in your vintage M3 bimmer!

Pretty Good
It has a nice collection of 70's funk, rare groove etc etc

Get it if you are into that kinda music. I liked it, but I spent $$$$ =( a tad expensive.... ... Read more

Reviews (2)

What in gods names is this!!
This is just awesome. It switches styles from African to R&B, rap, ambient, techno, and rupture twists and destroys every song to its most primal element. Creating a magnificent soundscape only rivaled by the Avalanches Since I Left You. PEOPLE BUY THIS!!!!

Defying description, one beat at a time.
I like doing my own compilations of cds, burning my favorite songs from a bunch of different cds onto one cd that I can listen to in the car. This was the first and only cd where I just burned the entire thing for a copy in the car (only burn cds that you own kids) so I could keep the original copy in my stereo. It's that good. It's fantastic. It's got beats, rhymes, and bass that are intermingled into a package that sounds like it was the source for each bit of song that /rupture utilized. Not quite techno/electronic, not quite a dj mix album, all original in presentation. Check out the track listing above for a taste of what was used, but don't expect /rupture to just sit idly by while an Aaliyah song spins. /rupture is a sound weaver, mixing and matching beats from two, three, even four songs like they were made as one to begin with. Ultimately, this cd defies any genre that I may have in my personal cd collection, making its own niche near techno/electronic, just north of hip-hop and a few spaces down from break beats. This is a masterpiece like you could never believe without giving it a spin. ... Read more

Album Description

Hailing from Los Angeles, DJ Revolution is best known for his nationally syndicated hip-hop radio show with Sway & King Tech called The Wakeup Show.Aside from his featured appearances on Sway & King Tech’s This or That CD, which has scanned over 150,000 copies, Revolution has also released two CD’s of his own, R2K Vol. 1.0, in 1999 and 2000’s In 12’s We Trust, both of which have gone on to scan over 17,000 copies.

Vol 5. and 6 is DJ Revolution’s 3rd and last double albumfrom the series Wake Up Show – Mix Archives, presenting one of the most important hip hop DJs, DJ Revolution, DJ for KRS1 and Big Daddy Kane, amongst others. ... Read more

Amazon.com

D-Day marks the recorded debut of DJs Craze, A-Trak, Infamous, J-Smoke, Spiktacular, and Develop, collectively known as the celebrated Allies turntablist crew. As with much of Asphodel's catalog, the Allies manage to cut a more abstract record than one would expect. Rather than the trimmed and proper routines of their championship live sets, there's a rough, improvised, and practice-tape quality to the solo cuts and posse jams. Heavy on Mobb Deep samples and Miami bass, the solo cuts are interesting but still too technical to excite turntablist pedestrians. The posse cuts are considerably better and more daring. Unafraid to mess with tempos and experiment with sinister textures, the two "Live Session" cuts feel less like talent shows and more like organic, experimental jams. Though the emphasis here is on the world-class posse's scratchwork, the Allies prove to be rather interesting producers as well. --Hua Hsu ... Read more

Reviews (2)

one of the best turntable cds
I gotta say when i first saw there cd i thought it was going to just be a practice tape style cd. but i was wrong instead of just scratch sessions over simple loops, the allies lay down very textured beats with alot of fx and samples with top notch scratching and even live MCs on a track! Hopefully all those kids that think Funk Master Flex and DJ Scribble are the best DJs will get to see what real DJs sound like!

Bombing or Dropping the Bomb?
Among the Allies there are 2 world champions, both of them have won multiple times (Craze the two time DMC champion and current battle DJ supreme, and A-Trak the youngest world DMC champion ever, also a holder of an ITF world championship) so good things are to be expected from this crew. Being that there are two world champions my attention was focused on what kind of synergy the Allies would display. The CD focuses on individual sets rather than group tracks. Considering that the group tracks are overshadowed by the individual tracks the focus on the individual cuts seems justified.

The Allies had to come with a better than average effort to impress me given their pedigree. I definitely think that this disc is worth the money, but for musicality I would prefer Craze's release Crazee Muzick. This not a slight at all on the other members of the Allies, all of the individual tracks are thoroughly enjoyable and deserve rewind after rewind but the album doesn't flow as a whole, but how should it with 7 different performers.

The hilite of the album for me was listening to the production underneath the cuts. At this point there is a certain level of competency in turntablism that is expected from a DJ, and all of the performers present here display such competency, the album may be a little thin on all out creativity but is by no means a re-hash of everything out there. It does leave a distinct sound in your ear but it is not redefining of the genre. I gave it 4 stars because it is one of the best turntablism discs out but not the best and doesn't innovate as much as I would have liked. All in all the tracks are tight and deserves to be listened to. ... Read more

Amazon.com

San Francisco has become ground zero for turntablists, and Om Records has put itself at the epicenter. The third installment of the label's highly regarded Deep Concentration compilation series does not rest on its laurels--it introduces many new names that may not be familiar even to those moderately well-versed in the scene. Not all the contributors are from S.F.--the opening track, from the East Coast's Ming & FS (one of Om's flagship groups), mixes a strong drum & bass flavor into the hip-hop. Many of the performers (Radar, Plagaiwrists, Danny Breaks), specialize in the surgically precise, astonishingly fast cutting and scratching that is turntablism's predominant feature, but others are hip-hoppers who prefer to create their musical backdrops with turntables instead of synthesizers. L.A.'s People Under the Stairs put the vocals first, and Blak Forest (also from L.A.) are one of the real discoveries of the compilation--anyone into any contemporary underground hip-hop (Jurassic 5, Dilated Peoples, Anti-Pop Consortium, Blackalicious, etc.) will want to check them out. Atlanta's T-Rock and Faust combine speedy scratching with mid-'80s electro beats and a nasal vocal delivery reminiscent of Rob Base, and the Highlanders close things out with a snotty, hyperspeed, synth-squelchy track that should appeal to fans of Atari Teenage Riot and similar bands. Overall it's a very listenable compilation that illustrates just how many directions hip-hop based music has taken. --Bob Bannister ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Wonderful Europhic Trip for your ears & mind.
I dig this CD, man. This is where it all comes from. Good rap, head boppin beats, skillful scratching. You cannot expect much better anywhere else. This is the best CD I have ever heard since Soundbombing II, which focused a lot on lyrical skills, well this one focuses where it all matters. Behind the music. What an amazing tribute to some of the most skilled spinners out there.

Get this CD, you will not be dissapointed. ... it was an impulse buy I didn't regret. And neither should you.

Peace out

This is the most ill scratchin cd you can get.
If you want to wow your friends with the best beats and unbelievable not stop scratchin, then this cd is for you.

Is your party not going so well?

No more booze, and its causing people to leave. Well bring them back with "Deep Concentration Vol. 3"

No gangster rap here. What you get is one funky beat after another, and just when you thought it couldn't get any funkier it really starts to funk your noodle.

This cd will constantly make you happy, you'll want to learn how to break dance. Their is no need to skip one track. I pledge allegiance to this cd.

a good buy
Anyone familiar with Om won't be disappointed with this disc. Tight beats, turntable heroics, the whole lot. The rap tracks offer a nice "rest" between the more turntable driven tracks (don't get me wrong, I love tables, but every once in a while I need to hear some less abstract phrasing). Standout songs include the Ming and FS cut, and the Blak Forest track. PUTS and Space Travelers also come correct. I recommend it. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Spooky's best mix album yet!
If you are like me 'Necropolis' was a slightly too experimental and 'Under the Influence' and 'Modern Mantra' were not experimental enough. 'Rhythm Science' fits somewhere right in the middle, and features a completly unique style only featured on this mix. Many of the tracks mix spoken word with dubby down tempo beats, but what is most interesting is how Spooky is constantly switching up what is in the foreground and what plays the background. Normally I find spoken word a little corny and would prefer an ill underground mc instead, but these are real poets on here...very cerebral but fun at the same time. Perfect! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Dark and Honest
Only when it's dark can you really see the light. If you saw the movie then this harrowing tune will soothe your soul. A bluesy-Jazzy, Deep Soul sound is perfect for all of us when times are quiet and ponderous!

Incredible
Too bad this was only pressed on a limited run. It's truly some of Shadow's best work to date. The original mix of "Dark Days" is very dark and foreboding with an incredible drum break. It explodes into an emotional apex when the strings come in demonstrating Shadow's unique ability in creating a mood. The Spoken for Mix isn't as dark, but the clips of dialog from the movie are very harsh, sad, and to-the-point. And all of this created using only samples. Shadow really is the best at what he does; if you can find a copy of this, I'd highly recommend it.

Shadow-- drop an album, not this single
DJ Shadow blends jazz, funk, soul, beats, and bass in flawless mixes. This release is just wetting my appitate... Drop that album! :)

Nah...
Dude, "Dark Days" is set in New York, not SF. We don't have homeless people in San Francisco. Thanks Willie!

DJ Shadow delivers the goods
This cd-single is music from the film "Dark Days". DJ Shadow did all the music to the film. DJ Shadow's music is mostly moody, deep hip-hop. The varied emotions and smooth yet complex time changes in most of his music reminds me the instrumental parts Radoihead songs like "Paranoid Android". This cd contains two new songs that have not appeared before, and will not be on DJ Shadow's next album. Track one is "Main Theme", and track two is "Spoken For Mix". The movie "Dark Days" is a documentary of homeless people in San Francisco. Its director lived amongst the homeless to gain their trust and interview them. "Main Theme is an instrumental score that flows smoothly. "Spoken For Mix" has some creepy voices taken from the film. These are homeless people saying things like "after you get past your first or second night, you adjust...", and "eighty percent of the population down here is crackheads...". This song is truly spectacular.If you like emotional music that has a touch of reality in it, this single is a must have. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

return of the dj volume 3
this cd i highly recomend its phhhhhhat its bugged out it has mad battle scratch megamxes very creative just like the volumes before it but this time dj slynke & his crew do some wicked megamixing and if you didnt get vol 1&2 get them also because all the djs truly show what scratch & megamixing is all about thumbs up ! ... Read more

Album Description

Hailing from Los Angeles, DJ Revolution is best known for his nationally syndicated hip-hop radio show with Sway & King Tech called The Wakeup Show.Aside from his featured appearances on Sway & King Tech’s This or That CD, Revolution has also released two CD’s of his own, R2K Vol. 1.0, in 1999 and 2000’s In 12"s We Trust.

The Wake Up Show Mix Archives Vol. Three and Four is the second double CD from a series of three, presenting some of hip-hop’s biggest names mixed, and often remixed, by DJ Revolution.A non stop mix with scratches, with Xzibit, Pharaoh Monch, The Beatnuts, Defari, Redman, Lauryn Hill, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Outkast, Gangstarr, Method Man, Tribe Called Quest, Nas and many others.A must-have for any hip-hop fan! ... Read more

Amazon.com

An outstanding compilation of Los Angeles-based hip-hop, Afro-soul, and funkdafied jazz, The Funky Precedent is more than just your run-of-the-mill underground comp. Its talent and diversity of sound captures the myriad styles of music that runs through L.A.'s Southland, from the rebellious riddims of Afro-Latin fusionists Ozomatli to the resurrected hardcore funk of Breakestra to the old-school/new-school hip-hop meld of Divine Styler. An album designed to appeal to more than just deep-underground heads, The Funky Precedent personifies L.A.'s past, present, and future. --Oliver Wang ... Read more

Reviews (7)

West Coast Hip-Hop at its Finest
Hip-Hop compilations are plentiful, but rarely does one come along with just the right mix of Hip-Hop, Funk, and Jazz all blended into one. Not only does the Funky Precedent accomplish this mix, but it perfects the blend.

Songs like Cut Chemist and Miles Tacket of the Breakestra - S.N.T [Live at Peacepipe] are upbeat jam sessions with funky bass and cello solos as well with Cut Chemist from Jurassic 5 adding skratches to compliment the whole sound.

If you enjoy Jurassic 5 as well as James Brown, if you prefer DJ skratching and top-notch lyricism, or if you are a fan of Hip-Hop in general, this is a compilation that is not to be missed.

The beat goes on
A wicked collection of the latest underground hip-hop sounds. Miles Tackett and Cut Chemist bring soul back into mix. Charles Raggio, the producer, has done a masterful job of crafting a most excellent alubm.

bad music - good cause
i like progressive styles. not regressive middle of the road boring styles. this cd has a very tepid mix of some LA artists.

i regret buying this cd. i fully support education - but i dont want to support artists making timmid music.

there are a lot of la funk/hip hop artist taking big risks and making crucial music. im gonna give my money to them

Tight as can be
Hip hop fans unite. This is one of the best, if not the best hip hop compilation of the year. I am feeling this start to finish. The Ugly Duckling and Black Eyed Peas tracks are the standouts if there is such a thing. Breaking New Artist Alert: Miles Tackett has 3 contributions on this album and he proves himself with the true hip hop elite. He jams on a cello like I have never previously heard. If you are truly feeling hip hop this is a must buy.

renaissance rap that's all over the map
From the live turntable funk of Cut Chemist and Miles on "S.N.T." to the throwback groove of the Jurassic 5's classic "Concrete Schoolyard" (think pharcyde meets sly stone), this album covers miles of musical ground in cadillac style. The bass line on "Journey to Anywhere" sets a looping beat that frames deft tradeoff raps underscored by pins and needles piano raindrops. And there's more--the Breakestra smacking out funk like James and the JB's circa 1970, Ozomatli dancing with the dead, guitar-driven African rhythms on Building...this album has a place for everything and everything in it's place.

Tightly tuned, lyrically loose, these tracks are meant for those who are musically inclined in all the right ways. Phat, dope, smoof, bad-ass--pick your adjective, this one deserves them all. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Good showcase for underground rappers
"We Came From Beyond" is a good compilation of hip hop acts that (except for the Beastie Boys) are not mainstream successes. (I'll warn you now: the Beastie Boy song is just a remix of "Pass the Mic" from "Check Your Head"). Freestyle Fellowship, Dilated Peoples, Blackalicious and Jurassic 5 are some of the established luminaries in the underground scene and they each contribute a good song to the CD ... "Unified Rebelution" by J5 in particular is a great slippery track -- the best on the album in my opinion. The CD is also great for helping to expose new acts (or ones I'm not familiar with, at least). Eyedea, Pep Love, Mighty Casey, Count Bass D, Atmosphere, AWOL-One, Fat-Hed, and Motion Man all have tracks with a distinctive sound ... it's great to be exposed to so much new talent. The highlights among the new artists are Pep Love's forbidding "Relief" and Mighty Casey's loopy "Liquorland", but they're all worth hearing. The album finishes with a 17-minute tribute to Rob One, and it's a credit to the production that the track uses the same loops throughout and doesn't get annoying or boring. I bought the CD because I like Blackalicious and Jurassic 5 but I'm happy with the whole disc. If you're at all interested in new sounds in underground hip hop, then get it!

if you just LOVE top 40 "hip hop" & R&B...
maybe, just maybe its not too late for you... buy this cd, get it home, lock your door, rub the cd all over your body, put it on, listen up... soak up some cool...and maybe, (no promises), just maybe, it'll get rid of all that WACK in you!!!
MOTION MAN is ridiculously ill (crushes most current MCs).
MIGHTY CASEY is just too fresh (what more can i say).J-FIVE,DILATED,AWOL ONE,BLACKALICIOUS,FREESTYLE FELLOWSHIP..
who could ask for more?
now take off that thong already.

We Came From Beyond compilation is DOPE !
I just picked up the "We Came From Beyond" compilation.
I really like it.
The new (underground) artists are GREAT!
There are some big names on this album; J5, Beastie Boys, etc. However I bought this CD for the underground acts it features.
I like new stuff.
Pep Love,Motion Man,FatHed,& Mighty Casey are the best lyricists on this CD. (all of whom i had never heard of before this record)
I rate this compilation a 9 (on a scale from 1 to 10)
I would like to see more subculture music for sale on Amazon.

-William J

its ok
i think these songs r worth downloading...its not really worth buying unless u cna get a good deal. tha cd has some decent songs from lesser-known artists and they arent bad its just not amazing...tha Beastie song is amazing

Blackalicious carries this comp, otherwise it ...
I originally preordered this because it was listed as a Blackalicous/Jurassic 5 collaboration, and that idea alone was enough to.... However, when I got it in the mail I discovered it was just a comp that happened to have Blackalicious and J5 on it, along with a handful of others....

Anyway, I'd already heard the included Blackalicious song (40 oz. for Breakfast) and it's by far one of the best hip hop songs of all time. But again, I'd already had it. THE REST OF THE SONGS ON THE CD DO *NOT* SELL IT. It's quite bad. The J5 song and the Eyedea song are exceptions, but everything else basically.... ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Ego Trip: Sucked. Altered Ego Trip: Doesn't Suck.
This is one of my all time favorite CD's. DJ Keoki is good, but the artists on this CD are better. Ego Trip was probably DJ Keoki's worst album, but this remix album makes up for it. I love the mixes of "Blow" and "Madness." Killer disc. Recommend it to anyone.

New and Improved
Even if you're not into Keoki or didn't like Ego-trip, this remixed version is worth picking up. I personally prefer a lot of the remixed versions to the origial, and with Crystal Method, Rabbit in the Moon, Uberzone, DJ Dara and DJ Dan, you really can't lose. Some of the weaker Ego-Trip songs make for dope remixing material. I liked the original, but I have to say the altered version is phatter.

Ego Trip is much better
This cd is okay, it is a standard remix cd through and through, nothing really special just some club mixes. Pick up if you're a die-hard Keoki fan.

Excellent album, full of good tunes for you to groove
I have only heard a couple of songs from the original album by keoki, so I'm not going to try and compare the two. "Altered-Ego-Trip" contains some of the most amazing dance tracks I've heard. Although I don't care for every song on this album, the ones I like come through in a big way.

First off, I'm not really a fan of The Crystal Mythod so the first song I usualy just skip. The other two song I don't really care for are "space", and the Taylor version of "crash". "Space" has an ok beat, which would be much more tolirable if the main line didn't go "I need my space .. I need my outer space", to me that just sounds stupid. Sorry Taylor, your version of crash I just can't get into.

Now that I got those out of the way, the rest of the album is sooo NIce. DJ Dan's version of "crash" is insane, the song make your happiness factor increase 30% - Wonderfull song for the dance floor. And of course I could go off on how good the rest are, but it would take to damn long.

By the way, I bought this album because of Napster.

Not a bad track on here.
This is a must have for all ego-trip fans and non ego-trip fans alike. Every song remixed has it's own flavor thanks to all the great remixers displayed. It is amazing to hear the differences between artists who made them, but also to the difference to the original songs. Must have. ... Read more

Album Description

Hailing from Los Angeles, DJ Revolution is best known for his nationally syndicated hip-hop radio show with Sway & King Tech called The Wakeup Show.Aside from his featured appearances on Sway & King Tech’s This or That CD,, Revolution has also released two CD’s of his own, R2K Vol. 1.0, in 1999 and 2000’s In 12's We Trust.

The Wake Up Show Mix Archives Vol. One & Two is the first double CD from a series of three, presenting some of hip-hop’s biggest names mixed, and often remixed, by DJ Revolution.A non stop mix with scratches, with Jazzy Jeff, Gang Starr, DJ Spinna, Eric B & Rakim, Eminem, Nas, Notorious BIG, Dilated Peoples, Busta Rhymes, Wu Tang Clan, 50 Cent, and many others.A must-have for any hip-hop fan! ... Read more

Reviews (159)

DJ Shadow is the Postmodern artist
I first go this album in 96; I was still in high school and didn't know much about sampling, beat production, etc. I thought it was one of the most amazing things I'd ever heard. Now, as a senior in college with more musical experience under my belt, I can still say this is one of the best albums I own. DJ Shadow revolutionized the way I and many people thought about sampling. As he takes a record from his insanely deep crates, he doesn't simply loop a catchy cut a la Puffy, he manipulates and recontextualizes these sounds into something completely his own. Like his track "Organ Donor," where he uses a sample of a church organ and turns it into a beat. Shadow in my opinion is the epitome of the postmodern musical artist: taking what's already out there in the world we live in and breathing new life into it. I highly recommend this to any electronic or hip hop fans. Oh, and by the way I heard he has a new album coming out soon; he's on MCA now, so his access to production equipment is gonna be insane this time. I'm expecting a truely remarkable album.

Wow! DJ Shadow's a genius!
I bought this album a few days ago on my 13th birthday because I liked "Building Steam With A Grain Of Salt" and "Organ Donor". At first I didn't like it because a lot of it I found boring. It also made me angry that the Organ Donor song is only 2 minutes in lenght on mine! (The one I listened to on the internet was over 4 minutes long)I put it in the next day and I got it. It may not be the Orbital, Fatboy Slim type stuff that I usually listen to but it isn't supposed to be. I got it in the Dance/Electronica section of the local record store...so it is a bit misleading. Dance? No way. It's very different and extremely hard to classify. I would say...Trip-Hop/Jazz/Electronica/Hip Hop/Soul.

So overall:

PROS:
Very moving
Nicely mellow
Great variation of songs
Often funny

CONS:
Seems kind of short
Some filler "tracks" like 6 and "Why Hip-Hop Sucks in '96" which are somewhat annoying.
Organ Donor is WAY too short!

Best tracks:
Building Steam
Stem/Long Stem
Changeling
Midnight in a Perfect World
Organ Donor

-Also I have the "Mo Wax" label, and it says "Mu Wax" on the back in really small print when it should say "Mo Wax"!

Producing one of the best albums ever
From the opening sample of "Building Steam With a Grain of Salt" where a voice is heard saying "Producing..." you know you are listening to an outstanding piece of work. In order to better understand this, you have to position yourself at the time this album came out.

You have to realize Trip Hop was already in full fledge: Massive Attack and Portishead had already come out with their own thing, but DJ Shadow came with a different proposal in 1996 when he produced 'Endtroducing...'. Through the magic of samples, he blended in a way many have tried to copy, yet no one yet matched, genres such as rock, soul, funk, ambient, and jazz, into a final product that transcends time. If you need further proof of that, think how long it's been since this album came out (1996) as you are reading this, sit back, listen to it and be amazed, as so many have been amazed to this day.

After listening to 'Endtroducing...' almost daily for three weeks now, turning back and thinking of acts such as Fatboy Slim almost feels awkward, considering his sample-based 'Better Living Through Chemistry' came out almost a full year after Shadow's debut. Granted that everyone has a place in music, DJ Shadow's genius with sampling work simply is above and beyond, making this not only his breakthrough, but also one of the best albums ever.

Other favorite tracks: "Changeling", "Untitled" and the grandieuse "Mutual Slump". If you want to take a dip into an evolved form of his work, check out his side project, U.N.K.L.E., in particular 'Psyence Fiction'.

A shadow of himself
A couple years back i became interested in underground hip hop and turntablism. My first, and best purchase, was DJ Shadows Endtroducing. Nary a day goes by that I do not find myself listening to this album. The way he mixes and blends the songs together puts Shadow at the top of his game on this record. Where this album excels is in its ability to not only drag you into the world that Shadow has produced but takes you through the mind of one the most talented individuals in all of music. If you enjoy music, do yourself a favor and buy this album. You will never find another like it, as it creates a constant state of euphoria, as the beats and samples are blended together in such a way that it is almost impossible to describe.in my top 10 albums of all time.

Excellent work
Dj shadow has proved that he is one of the greatest artists ever. With such diverse tracks and complex beats, Endtroducing will be something to look back on from years to come. ... Read more