Various Artists-- Classic Elements

(K 79)

I could write yet another glowing review of Rawkus' new Lyricist Lounge compilation, a record that's being heralded as the music that you will be hearing for the next ten years. . . and yet...

One of Rawkus' biggest supporters, yours truly, feels obligated to turn your ears back to the west-coast for the best hip hop I've heard this year.

Seattle is the home of K Records, a rock-identified label that has released Classic Elements, a compilation of Seattle hip hop artists that rings true to the hip-hop of the late 80's that most of us consider to be the golden age of the art form. Once again, as the grass roots performers of a region come up through the ranks vibing off of NYC/LA hip hop they reach an incredibly creative and cooperative atmosphere that gives birth to a rich intense scene bursting with flavor... FLAVA CRYSTLES?!?! Try Chicago in '93-'94 (Common Sense, NO I.D., Rubberroom, etc.), Atlanta in '95-'96 (Goodie Mob, Outkast, all of Organized Noize for that matter, etc.), and now check Seattle (Source of Labour, Jace, etc.).

Back to the music.... The CD is mellow to begin with, no over-hyped sound effects, no guns, no "cool" skits or other BS. The first track is a statement of mission, it features artists from the compilation talking about hip hop and which groups they liked and why. While that might not sound interesting in print, think about how many hip hop albums start out with MC's assassinating each other or talking a whole buncha' shit about that ethereal MC that's biting EVERYBODY's styles. From there you get to enjoy each group's contribution and you quickly learn that these Seattle artists are unaffected by the fact that Sir Mix-A-Lot and Kurt Cobain represent their homeland to the rest of the nation and have moved on to represent their own thing. They do it so darn well.

--- Daniel Poarch