Presents the Carnival Featuring the Refugee Allstars
Artist: Wyclef Jean
Community Score: 7.84
Hello Nasty - JAPAN
Artist: Beastie Boys

Loaded with analog synthesizers, old drum machines, call-and-response vocals, freestyle rhyming, futuristic sound effects and virtuoso turntable scratching, Hello Nasty, the Beastie Boys' fifth album, is a head-spinning listen and one that doesn't entirely reveal its secrets upon its first play. Since the success of Check Your Head, the Beasties... Read More

Check Your Head - JAPAN
Artist: Beastie Boys

Check Your Head brought the Beastie Boys crashing back into the charts and into public consciousness, but that was only partially due to the album itself -- much of its initial success was due to the cult audience that Paul's Boutique cultivated in the years since its initial flop release, a group of fans whose minds were so thoroughly blown by... Read More

The Flip Squad All-Star DJs
Artist: The Flip Squad All-Star DJs

Employing eight hip-hop DJs (including Funkmaster Flex, DJ Hollywood and Mister Cee) and various East Coast rappers (most notably, Luvbug Starski and the goofy Biz Markie), the Flipsquad All Star DJs are the rap equivalent of a hard bop jam session. Just as jazz saxmen and trumpeters would tend to be especially extroverted at a jam session show... Read More

Poly Sci
Artist: John Forté

As a protegé of hip-hop supergroup the Fugees, and a member of adjunct group the Refugee All Stars, John Forte exhibits the same intriguing mix of street and mainstream culture that helped the band rise above all prescribed boundaries. Poly Sci displays the same pumpin' beats blended with pop elements and articulate lyrics, that made... Read More

Pieces of a Man
Artist: AZ
Community Score: 6.85
Big Willie Style
Artist: Will Smith
Community Score: 6.50

Will Smith wisely decided not to change his style too much on Big Willie Style, the first record he released since becoming a major movie star with appearances in Independence Day and Men in Black. Instead of trying to toughen his image, Smith continued with the friendly, humorous pop-rap that has been his trademark since He's the DJ, I'm the... Read More

Vendetta
Artist: Mic Geronimo

With his second album, Vendetta, Mic Geronimo proves that his hard-hitting debut was no fluke. Geronimo may flirt a little too heavily with the crossover -- Puff Daddy's production on "Nothin' Move But the Money" is a little too smooth, and the blatant materialism doesn't suit him well -- but the fact of the matter is, even when he tries his... Read More

L' Ecole du Micro D'Argent
Artist: IAM
Community Score: 9.00
Welcome to Our World
Artist: Timbaland & Magoo
Community Score: 8.84

Welcome to Our World is one of the better rap debuts of 1997, establishing Timbaland & Magoo as gifted hip-hop musicians in their own right. The pair had previously written or produced tracks for such stars as Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Ginuwine, and the spare, kinetic beats of "Supa Dupa Fly" and "Pony" are a good indication of what's... Read More

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1
Artist: Jay-Z
Community Score: 7.20

After the death of friend and compatriot the Notorious B.I.G. in early 1997, Jay-Z made his claim for the title of best rapper on the East Coast (or anywhere) with his sophomore shot, In My Lifetime, Vol. 1. Though the productions are just a bit flashier and more commercial than on his debut, Jay-Z remained the tough street rapper, and even... Read More

The Journey
Artist: Immature
Community Score: 7.50

When Immature debuted in 1992 with On Our Worst Behavior, there were those who compared the preteen urban contemporary trio to the Jackson Five and early New Edition...By the time The Journey came out in 1997, the members of Immature were 15 and had improved somewhat. Lead vocalist Marques "Batman" Houston hadn't turned into a great singer by... Read More

Beastie Boys
Artist: Beastie Boys