VA – The Flip Squad Allstar DJs (1998) [CD] [FLAC] [MCA]

Genre: Hip-Hop
Codec: Flac (*.flac)
Rip: tracks+.cue
Quality: lossless
Size: 348 Mb

Employing eight hip-hop DJs (including Funkmaster Flex, DJ Hollywood, and Mister Cee) and various East Coast rappers (most notably, Lovebug Starski and the goofy Biz Markie), the Flip Squad 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 and show their chops off, the Flip Squad is essentially about rappers showing off their “flow,” or rhyming technique. No particular MC dominates the microphone; Biz, Starski, Canibus, McGruff and others take turns rapping and emphasize flow, flow, and more flow. Most of the time, the results are exhilarating, if limited. But a few of the tunes tell a story rather than simply concentrating on technique. “Get Tough ’98” and the menacing “Villain Guys” address the dangers of the inner city, while “Turntables” angrily speaks out against materialistic, gold digging women who dis rappers when they’re poor but try to seduce them after they’ve made some money. Some politically correct types will whine that “Turntables” is sexist or misogynist, but in fact, the song is simply telling it like it is. “Turntables” doesn’t insult women in general — only gold diggers. Flip Squad All-Star DJs isn’t without late 1990s influences, but much of the material is a throwback to the New York hip-hop of the 1980s. “How Ya Like Us Now,” in fact, isn’t unlike something the Treacherous Three, Grandmaster Flash or Kurtis Blow would have done 10 or 15 years earlier. Although not essential, Flip Squad All-Star DJs is a spirited effort that seasoned hip-hop fans will find enjoyable.

Review by Alex Henderson

01. Doo Wop – The Things I Do ft. Don Blaq
02. Funkmaster Flex – Seriously ft. Canibus
03. Mark Ronson – Turntables ft. Debonair with Sha Stimuli
04. Doo Wop – Members Only ft. Uneek & Don Blaq
05. Mark Ronson – Only Time You Love ‘Em ft. The Ghetto Inmates
06. Biz Markie – It’s Da Biz ft. Kia Jeffries
07. Big Kap – Fa Reel ft. Papoose & Trigger
08. Cipha Sounds – Get Tough ’98 ft. QSR (Ruler Divine, Spintek & Powa)
09. DJ Enuff & Jiv Pos – Villian Guys ft. McGruff
10. Biz Markie – Biz & Candy ft. Candy
11. Big Kap – Because ft. Desean Supa Star
12. DJ Enuff & Jiv Pos – Shoo ft. Doo Wop & Big Kap
13. Mister Cee – How Ya Like Us Now ft. Brucie B., Luvbug Starski & DJ Hollywood