Top Shelf - 8/8/88

This is a concept album of sorts, the backstory is these are lost songs from 1988 recording sessions done at a studio called Top Shelf. The project features tracks from legends such as MC Lyte, Grand Puba, Chubb Rock, Biz Markie, Dres from Black Sheep, Big Daddy Kane, Special Ed, Doug E. Fresh, Masta Ace, and Craig G amongst others.

However, if you remember what these people sounded like in that era you'll quickly realize that this was recorded recently and just made to sound old school.

It's an interesting concept and a little uncomfortable at points because we're faced with the fact that some of these people are still rhyming way past their prime. The Smooth B song is downright unbearable, and Nice and Smooth was one of my favorite groups as a kid. The Craig G song struck me as the most impressive, it sounded like he really wrote it two decades ago.

In any case, here's a download.