Atmosphere - Strictly Leakage (Rhyme Sayers entertainment 2008)
   Everyone knows Slugo raps about the ladies, how he hates them, loves them, cant live with em and cant live with out em. so going into this record i was a little jaded, but being a Hip-Hop head and respecting Slugo's hustle and song writting ability, I gave it a shot. Glad I did cause this album was nothing I expected. This Album is a Matured Slugo who passed the songs about girls and love to get back to being a Head and talking about life lessons. In one of his rhymes he talks about how he changed his style, "I spent the last 10 years rapping about trying to find wifey, now im wondering if all my fans are still gona like me?" Not only has his style changed up from the teenie bopper go getter to the expererianced Bboy spittin game and life lessons to the kids, but Ants production has also taken a slice of the Ol Skool with almost every track taking a peace of a classic Hip-Hop song and kinda re-Using it if ya will to make it new and fresh, thats pretty much what Hip-Hop is if ya didnt know. They don't have to many guest apperances on this album except a solid posse cut featuring "Brother Ali", "Stage One", "Yz", and "Toki Wright". So I dont't know if this was just a concept record or if Slugo really did settle down and decide to start writting songs with some relevant content for us 25 and olders. But either way this was a very good record with some good life lessons true form to the Hip-Hop that I grew up on. Pickster recomends that you give Ol Slugo another chance even if you have already gave up on him.
      

Dj Vadim - Sound Catcher (BBE Music 2007)
   Some feel the best music made is the simplest music made, Especially when it comes to Hip-Hop. well Russian born and London Raised DJ Vadim has mos def mastered the art of Simplecity. Combining big drums with dub and reggae hints of bass and samples give this record a real feel good, I wanna smoke a fat joint, and jam out to this record for the next hour type vibe. I was first turned on to Vadim from his first release in 1995 titled "Heads aint Ready" released on his own label "Jazz Fudge". Then Later on his "Ninja Tune" releases and his classic cut "The Terrorist". Fast foward 12 years "Sound Catcher" boasts features from Underground Heavy Weights "Abstract Rude" on "Sound Catcher", "Zion" on "Got To Rock", and a slew of soul singers, Reggae singers, and rasta vocalist. You can definitly hear his experiance in this release as it makes a fresh and easy listen. Its records like this that make me shoot my sister an email that says do your self a favor and head down to stinkweeds and pick up that new Vadim record.


Akrobatik - Absolute Value (Fat Beats Records) 2008
  Boston born mc Akrobatik steps up to the plate with his 5 release to date, "Absolute Value". Akrobatik has gained respect on the Boston hip-hop scene and beyond by combining political consciousness with battle style aggressiveness in his lyrics, and "Absolute Value" lives up to jus that. Steping up his game this time around with heavy hitter guest appearances by "Cypress Hill's" "B-Real" on "A to the K", "Talib Kweli" on "Put Ya Stamp On It", "Little Brother" on "Be Prepared", "Public Enemy's" "Chuck D" on "Kindred", and "Mr.Lif" on "Beast Mode". Akro comes correct with the hard hitting raw lyrics he is known for, but also comes smooth with the heavy female vocal laden cut "Rain" feat Breanna Gethers. With almost 4 years between his last real release and "Absolute Value" you can really tell he took his time and picked the best beats he came across. Evidence for this is the Track "Beast Mode" feat Mr.Lif. I droped this cut at the Blunt Club and the B-Boys went straight to beast mode and tore the floor up. So i give "Absolute Value" 2 thumbs up. Run out to Eastside Records and cop that ish son!


Edit - Certified Air Raid MAterial (Alpha Pup Records 2007)
   As Hip-Hop is steadily evolving right before our eyes. It is no longer as easy as classifying it as just Black or White, As Much as the Phoenix New Times would like it to be that easy, it really just isnt that easy any more. Now adays you have all these sub Genere's and whole little scene's popping right up and holding weight with everyone else trying to stake some claim in this Culture Phenomenon. Enter Nu Skooler Los Angeles based producer "Edit" and his Sophmore album "Certified Air Raid Material". Taking the whole "Glitch Hop" scene poplurized by "Prefuse 73" and other European based producers and putting his LA Hip-Hop Bboy style right into it. This is the kinda music that once it drops it makes your Head Instantly bob and your eyebrows sqwentch in and the corners of ya mouth go up... I don't know why but it jus does, haha. Im all about it. Not only is this album rocking the clubs all over the world but heads are bumping the colabo's with "Living Legends" member "The Grouch", and "Project Blowed's" "Abstract Rude" and "Busdriver". Even I was forced to Make a "Brad B" "Silence Is Gold" mash up with "Battling Go-Go Yubari in Downtown LA" for "Brad b's" newest mix cd called "Brad B-sides" mixed by Yours Truly "Pickster One" :) (A little plug because i can, fuck you) This Music is Heavy Synthed, Hella Glitchy, and Chopped and re arranged and not for the weak. But if you want to hear where these Nu Skool kids are taking this Culture and dont Give a Fuck about the Black/White guide lines sadly alot of people think Hip-Hop is... Then Give my Man "Edit" and "Certified Air Raid Material a Listen".