Lord Finesse — Return of the Funky Man

In 1991, Lord Finesse split from his former partner DJ Mike Smooth and he split from his former record label, Wild Pitch Records. Around this time, Finesse signs with Giant Records, subsidiary label of the major Warner Bros. Records thanks to Ice-T, and publishes the single "Return of the Funky Man". In 1992, Finesse released his second CD, released by Giant Records, Reprise Records and distributed by Warner Bros.

KRS-One — KRS-One

Two years after his debut as a solo rapper, Lawrence "KRS-One" Parker releases his second studio album. The Bronx MC self-produces six tracks, the rest of the rhythm set is complemented by DJ Premier, with three tracks, Diamond D with two, Showbiz, Norty Cotto and Big French Productions with one beat each. The guests are Fat Joe, Channel Live, Mad Lion, Das EFX and Busta Rhymes, as well as hundreds of artists and personalities who pay homage to the figure of Parker in different skits at the end of the songs. The formula of the disc doesn't change from the previous work, boom bap production and dynamic bars performed hardcore. The lyricist shows his dynamism again with the pen, writing fluidly on topics ranging from socio-conscious to braggadocio, passing through political, religion, and hip-hop themes.

Main Source — Breaking Atoms

Published by Wild Pitch, it's the debut album of the Main Source group, made up of Queens rapper and producer William Paul "Large Professor" Mitchell and Toronto DJ/producer brothers Kevin "K-Cut" and Shawn "Sir Scratch" McKenzie. This duo provides some scattered scratches, so it's practically a solo work of Large Pro, artist from Queens which provides both rapping both production: his rapping style is solid, tight, with dope flowing and fresh delivery, and simple and fun lyrics, mainly based on braggadocio with some socio-conscious and political bar against police violence and racism.

Killah Priest — Heavy Mental

Walter "Killah Priest" Reed grew up in Brooklyn, became passionate about hip-hop and participated in neighborhood rap battles, where he meets GZA and through him meets RZA. Reed, initially known as Lord Messiah, is set to become the ninth member of the Wu-Tang Clan and the last available place in the group is disputed with Masta Killa, another friend of GZA who stays up all night to write and deliver what will be the verse of "Da Mistery Of Chessboxin'", song included in the Wu-Tang Clan's first historic album, "36 Chambers", while Reed falls asleep.

Heavy D & The Boyz — Peaceful Journey

Heavy D's third studio album, dedicated to his friend T-Roy, a backup dancer for Heavy D's group who died during their 1990 summer tour with Public Enemy. Taking turns at the keyboards are Heavy D's cousin Pete Rock, Marley Marl, DJ Eddie F, Howie Tee, Dave Hall, Nevelle Hodge and Teddy Riley. Guests include Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Q-Tip, Grand Puba, Pete Rock & CL Smooth.

RZA — Thriller [soundtrack]

For the soundtrack of his movie "Thriller", dismissed by critics as bad, RZA dirties the name of "36 Chambers" and presents the soundtrack as a concentrate of new music made by Ghostface Killah, Cappadonna and himself. The production isn't credited, I assume it was done by Bobby Digital, because, on the whole, it's quite generic and lifeless. Steelz makes the opening cut and the last four tracks, the guests of the album are the members of the Wu-Tang Clan Ghostface Killah and Cappadonna, present once each, the close affiliate Young Dirty Bastard, other affiliates such as The Reverend Willy Burke of Achozen and Hue Hef, who in the two thousand and ten made his way into Method Man's mixtape albums, in addition to external guests Weather Park, the great protagonist of the tape with four appearances including a solo cut, Earth, Cory Ironside, Don Prynce, Dontius, Harley and Chauncey Jenkins.

Heavy D & The Boyz — Big Tyme

Heavy D returns with the group for the second studio album. This effort gives us a glimpse of new jack swing and R&B vibes during all listening. Also, thanks to a fine production (frenetic and minimal rhythms) and several excellent samples (The Meters, George Clinton, Zapp, Lyn Collins, Pointer Sisters, but above all James Brown), Heavy D manages to come up with some honest pieces. The best is "You Ain't Heard Nuttin Yet": splendid rhythm with perfect sample by "Mr. Magic" by Grover Washington, Jr., simple, essential, not too tight, punctual and impeccable delivery by the rapper. 6/10.

Bun B & Statik Selektah — TrillStatik

Collaborative album between rapper Bun B and producer Statik Selektah, who decides to record the process of creating the project and put it in free livestream. In less than twelve hours of live broadcast, the album is completed: guests are JaVonté, Method Man, Grafh, Fat Joe, Smoke DZA, Westside Gunn, Termanology, Fame, Wais P, Meechy Darko, CJ Fly, Haile Supreme, Uncle Murda, Propain, Killa Kyleon, Big KRIT and Talib Kweli.

Cypress Hill — Cypress Hill

In 1971, the Cuban family of Senan "Sen Dog" and Ulpiano Sergio "Mellow Man Ace" Reyes emigrated to the US and initially lived in South Gate, California. In 1988, the Reyes brothers form the hip-hop group DVX (Devastating Vocal Excellence) with NYC-born Lawrence "DJ Muggs" Muggered, yet a member of the hip-hop group 7A3, and Louis "B-Real" Freese. When Mellow Man Ace chooses to persue a career as a solo artist, the group changed their name to Cypress Hill, after a street in South Gate. After recording a demo in 1989, the group deals with Ruffhouse Records and releases this historical West Coast debut in 1991.

Nas — Illmatic

Born in Brooklyn, Nasir Jones grew up in Queens. He became interested in hip-hop at a young age, listening to records by his neighbor Willy "Ill Will" Graham, who later became his DJ. After starting out as Kid Wave, he changed his moniker to Nasty Nas. At the age of 15, he met producer Large Professor who introduced him to his group Main Source. Nas debuted with them and Akinyele, recording a verse on "Live at the Barbeque", included in the album "Breaking Atoms" (1991). The young rapper from Queens went looking for a contract, but received no record offers, being rejected by the major hip-hop labels of the time, Cold Chillin and Def Jam. Nas and Ill Will continued to work together until Ill Will's death, killed in a shootout in May 1992. Nas's brother Jungle was also involved in the shooting that night, but survived. A few months later, he was approached by MC Serch of the group 3rd Bass, who was working on a new solo project after his group disbanded and who brought the young man to a track on his album "Return of the Product" (1992), later chosen as a single, "Back to the Grill", which references the Main Source track.

Serch discovers that Nas is unsigned, so he becomes his manager and secures him a contract with Columbia Records. Shortly after, Nasty Nas records the solo track "Halftime", later included in the movie soundtrack of "Zebrahead" (1992). These tracks attract the attention of the hip-hop community and the young man is described as the new Rakim. MC Serch becomes the executive producer of Nasty Nas's debut studio album, starting to put him in touch with some producers. The name of the young emcee from Queens is already known to the producers, who record some tracks with him at Power House Studios: among others there is also DJ Premier, the producer of Gang Starr with whom a rare chemistry is immediately born with Nas. Large Professor contacts Pete Rock and later LES and Q-Tip also arrive to work on some tracks. AZ is the only guest on the album, which also features the musician Olu Dara, Nas' father.

Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth — Funky Technician

Robert "Lord Finesse" Hall Jr. was born in The Bronx, raised in the South Bronx, meeting as a kid Joseph "Diamond D" Kirkland and Andre "AG" Barnes, both future members of DITC group. The first DJ of Lord Finesse is Mike Smooth, producer from New York City, New York. Lord Finesse & DJ Mike Smooth sign with Wild Pitch Records, label which in its paddock can boast Gang Starr, OC, Percee P and Main Source, among others. Around the same time, Lord Finesse deals with Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate Management. In 1990, the duo creates their debut album.

Logic — YSIV

Young Sinatra IV, rendered with the acronym YSIV, is Logic's fourth studio album and, more importantly, is the fourth and final installment of his "Young Sinatra" series of projects, consisting of a trilogy of mixtapes released consecutively between 2011 and 2013. This album was born as a sequel to the latest mixtape and is entirely produced by 6ix, with Logic that fortunately touches almost no beat, reserving a rhythm together with Vontae Thomas, Cubeatz, Izaiah, Kajo, Matthew Crabtree, Rascal and Ryan Tedde, Sunny Norway provides two rhythms, NAZ three. Guests are Lucy Rose, The RattPack, Kajo, Slaydro, Big Lenbo, Hailee Steinfeld, Wale, John Lindalh, Ryan Tedder, Jades Smith, and above all, the entire Wu-Tang Clan, all living members + the affiliate Jackpot Scotty Wotty. The cover resumes that of the first mixtape of the series, with the image of Frank Sinatra replaced by him.

Heavy D & The Boyz — Living Large...

Aided by the skeletal and funky rhythms created by DJ Eddie F and Teddy Riley, Heavy D [& The Boyz] debuts with a pop rap album. The rhythms are accessible and decent, with some guessed samples; the rapping is pretty soft/light. Some tracks sound better than others, especially in the first part, then the record is reduced to generic rhythms, trivial hooks and never inspired lyrics. Closes a ballad (with a nice synth in the background) which turns out to be among the best choices here, 6/10.

Master Ace — Take a Look Around

The last MC of the Juice Crew to obtain a solo album, in 1990 Duval "Master Ace" Clear debuted with a record entirely produced by Marley Marl. The historical producer provides simple, funky and effective boom baps following his proven formula, while the rapper pulls down braggadocio lyrics with some socio conscious variation in one of his most easygoing and fun efforts. Coherent, simple and fairly solid album, Master Ace delivers its bars with a good varied flow and good metric schemes, the project flows easily even without presenting banger or classics: in "Me and the Biz" (song then finished on the FM Playback of San Andreas), the rapper also makes the character of Biz Markie, who had not been able to reach him in the studio for the collaboration.

Highlights: "Music Man", "Me and the Biz", "Postin' High", "As I Reminisce".

Rating: 7.8/10.

Logic — The Incredible True Story

Logic's second studio album. Almost entirely produced by the rapper himself and 6ix, it features three rhythms by Sir Dylan, two each by C-Sick and DJ Khalil, and a beat by Stefan Ponce, SykSense, OZ, DJ Dahi, and Tae Beast. The guests are Big Lenbo, Lucy Rose, Dria and Jesse Boykins III. Released by Visionary and Def Jam, it achieves considerable commercial success and is highly regarded by critics: #3 on the Billboard 200, first among rap records, certified platinum in 2021.

Big L — Lifestylez ov da Poor & Dangerous

Debut album by Lamont "Big L" Coleman, rapper from Harlem, Manhattan. Production is realized by DITC producers Lord Finesse, Buckwild and Showbiz, with Craig Boogie that provides one beat. The guests are Kid Capri, Lord Finesse, Jay-Z, Grand Daddy I.U., Microphone Nut, Party Arty, Terra, Herb McGruff, Buddah Bless, Big Twan, Killa Cam, Trooper J. & Mike Boogie. In the early nineties, Big L starts writing rhymes, joins the DITC founded by Lord Finesse and founds his own group, the Children of the Corn, together with Murda Mase, Killa Cam, Bloodshed and Herb McGruff. In 1993, Columbia listens to a tape of Devil's Son and signs him.

Logic — Under Pressure

Debut studio album for Sir Robert Bryson Hall II, biographical name of the Maryland rapper Logic. The boy arrives launched by a series of very good mixtapes and has just revealed that he has signed with the Def Jam house, with which he has had a deal since 2011, five months after releasing his mixtape "Young Sinatra", managing to keep secret the agreement and releasing the next two free mixtapes again as an independent. 6ix and Logic are the main authors of the production, performed together with Alkebulan, DJ Khalil, Jake One, Dun Deal, S1, M-Phazes, Tae Beast, Skhye Hutch, Frank Dukes, DJ Dahi and Rob Knox. The album is the rapper's most personal and doesn't feature any guests.

KRS-One — Return of the Boom Bap

A year after disbanding Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One releases his debut solo album. Often, hip-hop fans wonder what would have happened if, over the course of his career, perhaps at his finest, KRS had spit hardcore bars on beats from a really good producer: it happened homies, the year is 1993, the album is "Return of the Boom Bap", Lawrence Parker's first solo album, that is, the first disk on which he decides to take off the name Boogie Down Productions and put his name on it, delivering hard bars on DJ Premier beats.

Raekwon — Immobilarity

Chef Raewkon releases a typical sophomore jinx four years after his debut: the heavy absence of the Wu-Tang Clan is immediately evident, creating a resounding contrast with "The Purple Tape". RZA & Ghost Face Killer, protagonists of that album in production and on the mic respectively, are replaced by amateur imitators. Most of the production is provided by rookie beatmakers Triflyn (6), The Infinite Arkatechz (5), Pop & Vo (4). DJ Devastator, Six-July and Pete Rock perform one beat each. Method Man and Masta Killa are the only Wu-Tang members to participate in the project. The other guests are the Raekwon group American Cream Team, consisting of Baby Thad, Chip Banks, Rhyme Recca and Superb, as well as Big Bub and Kim Stephens.

Mobb Deep — The Infamous

A few months after the release of their debut, Mobb Deep are dropped off the label due to the disappointing sales result and they're about to withdraw from a scene in constant motion and which cannot wait for them to see them triumph. Prodigy and Havoc don't give up, they work on a darker production than in the past and produce a demo tape that, through the wise hands of Matty C and Schott Free, gets to the Stretch & Bobbito radio show and gains some attention. After securing the Wu-Tang Clan, Loud Records, of which Free is an A&R, looks for a new hardcore group to sign and in autumn 1993 they agree with Mobb Deep. The following year they released the promotional single "Shook Ones" (Part I) and began recording their second studio album. The production is made by Mobb Deep and The Abstract aka Q-Tip, whose presence behind the scenes is fundamental, while guests are Crystal Johnson, Big Noyd, Ty Nitty of Infamous Mobb, Nas, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and Q-Tip.

Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five — The Message

Debut album for Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, group composed by Joseph "Grandmaster Flash" Saddler, Bronx rapper originally from Barbados, Melvin "Grandmaster Melle Mel" Glover, Nathaniel "Kidd Creole" Glover, Edward "Scorpio" Morris, Robert Keith "Cowboy" Wiggins, and Guy Todd "Rahiem" Williams.