Gold chains

Thrasher Magazine, Jan, 2004 by Jared Soares

RELATED ARTICLE: Hesh trax.

THERE SEEMS TO BE an uncommonly large amount of uncommonly good hip hop coming into the mag lately. So much so, that in an effort to clear nay desk off I'm strapping on the keyboard and squeezing four releases that probably all deserve to be feature stories into thin tiny little sidebar. No wait what I meant to say is I'm helping to make the mag "valu-tastic" by packing it with the music info that you so desperately seek.

ATHOSPHERE

SEVEN'S TRAVELS

Studio album number four from Minneapolis' beloved Rhyme Sayers Crew, Seven's Travels finds Atmosphere teamed up with (not quite on) punk label Epitaph in a worldwide licensing deal that looks to open even more doors, minds and wallets to the vibe that Slug, Ant and DJ Mr. Dibbs are kickin'.

Building on a foundation as strong as Slug and Ant got going, it seems tough for these guys to do much of anything wrong. Production is tighter than ever if that's possible, and Slug even seems a little less gloomy. Good stuff.

AESOP ROCK

BAZOOKA TRUTH

This follow-up to his spectacular Labor Days album features improved production, better rhymes and a maturing flow that blab, blah, blah ... Dude just check it out. If you like Aesop (which I do), you won't be disappointed (which I wasn't). Supposedly the PR people who hype this stuff have some ancient footy of him skateboarding in nut-hugger shorts and striped tube socks but they wouldn't give it up. Isn't any coverage supposed to be good coverage?

HIKE NARDONE PRESENTS

WE CAME FROM BEYOND VOL. 2

Featuring some of the heaviest of the underground heavy hitters, this compilation easily stacks up to the acclaimed Volume 1. This time around Mr. Nardone presents us 13 unreleased (16 total) new tracks by the cream of he underground hip-hop crop. Esoteric, Aesop, Slug, Lateef & the Chief, Wildchild, Eyedea, people under the Stairs ... ever heard of these people? You're seriously laggin' if you haven't ...

DEFINITIVE JUX RECORDS

THE REVENGE OF THE ROBOTS DVD

Actually a one-hour tour movie that traces the steps of DEFINITIVE JUX records' fall 2002 mayhem, Revenge of the Robots features live and behind-the-scenes leery of EL-P, RJD2, and Mr Lif raising ruckus on the road and rocking the house live throughout North America and Europe. The DVD also has a few rare Music vids from the boys and a mini documentary on the whole Def Jux phenomenon. Packaged with an additional music CD containing 15-minute RJD2 mega-mix and some live tracks boot, this is a must-have for all you Def Jux junkies. The box art rules too.