Wild Pitch Records collection of cuts, featuring artists such as Gang Starr, Latee, The Coup, Main Source, O.C., UMC's, Lord Finesse, Chill Rob G, Ultramagnetic MC's, N-Tyce and Jamose. Production is handled by DJ Premier, The 45 King, Boots, Main Source, Buckwild, Hass, RNS, Diamond D, Godfather Don, 4th Disciple, Wu-Tang Clan and Louie Louie.
Gang Starr opens the collection with one of their many masterpieces: brilliant Premier production, jazzy soundscape with fantastic samples and fresh scratches, Guru delivers sweeping everything, clean, smooth, crisp, dope cut. It follows one of the two Latee singles, then The Coup place another song among the best of the edition, on a practically flawless production. "Looking at the Front Door" is the first choice by Main Source, main guests of the compilation, then comes another absolute classic, "TIme's Up" by O.C.: wonderful production by Buckwild, perfect drum, excellent sample, extraordinary delivery by Omar Credle at his best in career, DITC dope cut. Track number six is the first of UMC's: splendid samples, jazzy rhythm, hard pounding drum, good delivery by the guys from Staten Island. "Live at the Barbeque", you know that ish, forget about it. Nas dominates a timeless soundscape from one of the best producers of the nineties, Large Professor. There's also the debut of Akinyele, and they never talk so much about Joe Fatal: his contribution is good, moreover it seems he was the one who brought the two rappers from Queens together with Large Professor to create the track.
Another classic follows, the title track of Lord Finesse's debut album: DITC artist shows off his talent on a captivating production by Diamond D. Main Source is back, then comes the contributions of Chill Rob G and Kool Keith, who's in a tune of his group Ultramagnetic MC's feat Godfather Don, always a pleasure to listen to. From N-Tyce, Greensboro, North Carolina, comes the highlights you don't expect: punctual boom bap from 4th Disciple, producer of Killarmy and affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan, who's credited with producing with him. The guys provide a beautiful soundscape to support girl's slow velvet bars, who will be part of the Wu-affiliated Deadly Venoms group in the future. There's also Method Man, which offers a simple hook. Quite curious to get a Killa Beez track in a Wild Pitch compilation. Main Source, Latee and Jamose manage to keep the quality level of this record quite high, with robust and pleasing choices. UMC's close the compilation with one of the best tracks of the edition, delivering with a rapping dope style on a very good beat.
The disk is composed by 16 tracks for a total of over 66 minutes of listening. Most of the songs consist of a simple and minimal jazzy boom bap with hard, pounding skeletal drums, and great jazzy samples. There are no weak moments and all the cuts are pretty solid and honest, delivered in a slow, syncopated, flowing style. There are great performers and great producers, it comes out a relaxed listening, enjoyable and with several excellent traits, which East Coast fans are sure to appreciate. Unsurprisingly, this collection has been ignored by audiences and critics alike, like all the other records on the label, nonetheless, I think it's one of the musts of the year in hip-hop, it's a nice sign of the raw and brilliant quality of Wild Pitch catalog (great cover).
Highlights: "Words I Manifest", "Dig It", "Time's Up", "Live at the Barbeque", "Funky Technician", "Hush Hush Tip", "One to Grow On".
Rating: 8/10.
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