Let’s say we get three emcees together, that blessed so many mics individually, ripped so many contestants apart and took us to deeper odysseys, than Homer ever could. Let’s get Supernatural, probably the best freestyle emcee out there, let’s get Naptron and let’s get Zoundwavez (who impressed all the true heads with his more than impressive Phoenix Orion release "Zimulated Experiencez") together, found the Alien Nation and return to cybertron. See, most of the emcees would like to go there, while these cats can return. That track "Return To Cypertron" is another masterpiece by Hive. He restrains the beat, while it still tingles in the back, desperately trying to break free, into some wild jungleish, neck breaking beat. The flipside contains Zoundwavez on the solo tip, on the very short "Unicron". Daddy Kev laced him with a scientific experience, that sounds like the Mafia from outer space. This is definitely one of the best 12" releases of this year.

The guys at PUTS music are at it again. After serving us a delicious platter in form of the People Under The Stairs own "The Next Level", it's now this 4 course meal by Droopy Love that keeps our mouth watering, and that I am afraid my 1200 breaks down, because I'm drooling all over the table. First course: "Deep Impact" is some low tempo track. The production by the People’s own Thes One, is multi layered and sounds like some relict of the early nineties, what is a good thing. The second course is named "Just The Three Of Us" and Dr.Oop The holistic MD shares the kitchen with the People Under The Stairs, that are Thes One & Double K. Now they are defenitely not too many cooks, because they don't spoil the dish. This is something for the parties of the mental strong and lyrically skilled. "Crunch Time" leaves the happy go lucky stuff behind, and things get crunch, not crunk. Strings and a drum, that's all Droop.Capone needs to drop his battle heavy lines. And finally we get "Supa Drupa", an abstract track, with a complex drum, scratch sample and a synthetic bump. You need to watch out for this Heavyweight, and we are waiting for "Donkey Punches, Hot Lunches And Strangers".

There has always been this buzz about the Icons. They were supposed to be extra nice. But what to do if one is from Switzerland and these San Diego cats made noise in the most underground of undergrounds, and their album never reached our shores. Well, at least not a store near me. However we now got this three track 12" in our hands, and we can check what the fuss was all about. And these four cats bring the good stuff. The two emcees Frosty da Know-Matic and Ech-u-Sketch trade their rhymes, while DJ Syko cuts up Guru’s voice on "Pounds Of Respect". A piano strong track, while "Like Neverbefore" has us bouncing to a organ-like sounding effect. It gets darker and harder on "Composure". F.Ingaz aka The Strategist again got a piano out, and has the emcees spread their knowledge to pleasurable result. Now these Southern Cali cats are defenitely worth the buzz. Damn, I just really need to get that album.

Coming from the always exciting Rebel Alliance crew out of Boston, this Mr Lif release promises to be science fiction, master flow, abstract and nothing for people who like their stuff easy digestible. "Triangular Warfare", produced by Insight the Truncator, hits you from several directions at once, while Fakts One cuts up Rakim and Guru. Next up is the collaboration with Akrobatik, a Boston Emcee in his own right, and doing about as much noise as Lif does, they pass the mic back and forth, over a multi instrumental cut, done by Lif himself. And finally "Arise" gives us the Mr in his most thoughtful and uplifting, over an atmospheric track, laced by El-P (Company Flow), that you can also hear on the "Little Johnny From The Hospital". Brick still has to disappoint. This is nice.

This project is to give awareness of Mumia Abu-Jamal still being in jail, waiting for his execution, although it’s questionable that he did commit the crime, they sentenced him for. It’s these artists contribution to the National Day of Art to Stop the Execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal: 9.11.99. Just naming everybody on this 12" takes up about all the space available for this review. Aight here we go: (in order of appearance) Afu Ra, Goldii Lokks (Mumia Abu-Jamal’s step-daughter), Pharoahe Monch, Aceyalone (Freestyle Fellowship), Wise Intelligent (Poor Righteous Teachers), Slimkid 3 (The Pharcyde), Sayeed (Antipop Consortium), Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine), Gene Gray (aka What? What?), Tragedy, Channel Live, Dead Prez, Chuck D, Divine Styler, The Last Emperor, Black Thought (The Roots) and P.E.A.C.E. (Freestyle Fellowship). Not only are these all very talented emcees, they all are very conscious with what they say, which makes this one of the most powerful songs since "Self Destruction", "H.E.A.L." and "We’re All In The Same Gang". There is a version on it with all the rappers together, one with only the westcoast artists (produced by Fatlip of The Pharcyde) and one with the eastcoast artists, produced by Diamon D.

Naptron is the Meta-Predator, he’s the Seismic Verbalizer, and says "the mind is my playpen". Just to get this straight: this is not for the weakly minded. This is just some next level event. Some "Styles Of Madness". Some ‘digital chaos’. And how couldn’t it be? Celestial released it, Hive and Daddy Kev produced it, one third of the Alien Nation rhymed it. See, Naptron even makes a guitar sound like some stars crashing (check out "Napera"). And what about "Naptron’s Trip Pt. I & II"? This will blow your mind, you will forget to press rewind. The only thing that’s wack about this? It’s too darn short.

Having one of the Quannum artists on a track is nice. Having them all one a track is more than nice. And add DJ Shadow to the mix, tell him to produce a track, and then you must have the magic combination of a classic. Well, actually you don’t. At least considering this track, that is nice, that has all the bounce, all the spice and all the fire one wants, but still falls short to take it over the top. Shadow keeps it almost old school with his sound effects, with his old school bass patterns and limited musicality. That’s cool, but he’s the guy that we love for his complex drums and for his atmospheric layers, so... Lyrically, with Gift Of Gab, Lyrics Born and Lateef having each a go on the mic, like if they need to slaughter it within’ few minutes and seconds. And they come in an oldish style too, while still remaining in their distinctive flow. So get this as another example of hip hop nostalgia, get this to study these cats, get this to plain enjoy emcees that enjoy themselves putting out some of the freshest hip hop of today.

Royce is probably best know for the 12" he released with his best man Eminem as Bad vs. Evil. Now, while some claim that he is even nicer than the Slim Shady emcee, listening to this, you can’t really agree. Sure he comes correct, when he spits: "I got a name from usin' pocket change to pay my dues / I'm sharp as a shank and about as soft as you think / I'm hangin’ from the cross of your link, you get offered a drink" or "split somebody, and serve the nigga whose style you bit / that bit like 10 niggaz that bit somebody / top of the world, all that's around you is beneath me / me learnin' from your mistakes is the only way you can teach me". And that makes him an above average battle rapper, but where Em’s humor sets in, Royce only has thuggism to offer. Beat wise the b-side is a hands down winner: Reef provides Royce and guest rapper Tre with a piano line that goes on and on, rises higher, only to smack down on you. The a-side is an okay Alchemist produced track, that sports a nice Run-DMC ‘I’m the king’ scratch, provided by DJ Ev. Royce is now signed to Tommy Boy, and with the hype he will get for being Em’s main man, he sure will get some more shine. And his talent and niceness actually make him deserving it.

After their last 12" "Return" surprised everybody, and the audience was urging for more, Self Scientific now returned with "Love Allah" (featuring Krondon). Surprisingly battle orientated, and not as conscious as one might expect, these westcoast once again rhyme over a guitar laced track, that falls short of the musicality of "Return" though. Things get extra dark, hard with "Evergreen". DJ Khalil spices up the track with several different soundlayers, while Chace Infinite spits knowledge, like we expect this LA inhabitant to do. The flipside gives us both instrumentals, plus two unnamed beats (just like on the last 12"), of which the first is very nice.

While everybody talks about Supernaturals exceptional freestyling skills, he now has to prove that he can rhyme nicely, even when he’s reciting written rhymes. After the "Buddha Blessed It" 12", one knows that one can expect unusual rhymes, and that ‘Nat also likes to rhyme over strange beats. So he’s defenitely on the right label, and has the right producer in Hive. "Armageddon At Your Door" is just a lyrical bashing of everybody less skilled than Supernat. While some, as he says: "Supernat you they won’t love you, they don’t understand your style", a lot of us do. And he gives everybody "Seven Minutes Of Understanding". A slow track, with a whistling, piano shattering track by Daddy Kev. Well, there is no doubt that Supernatural is skilled, but other emcees can write rhymes like this. So it will still be his freestyling ability that he will be remembered by. But being the best at it, that’s not that bad at all.