Revisiting some of the past greats from the Fabric Live catalogue, couldn't pass this one up. It's Spinbad in serious work mode circa 2004- that means all NY hip hop all the way (well just about, there's one Mystikal track on here too), with plenty of his signature blends, doubles and scratching. The guy is a professional in every sense of the word, and while it woulda been cool if he revisited some of his 80s Mix, Spinbad could make an awesome mixtape out of First Family records. His selection is really on some "this is what I would play in a NY club for an hour" stuff- starts mid 90s a "Déjà Vu" blend, Blahzay Blahzay, Crooklyn Clan, ODB, then onto mid school classics (BDP, Special Ed, Black Sheep, Eric B & Rakim), then to the old school (Sugarhill, Flash, Run DMC) and finally finishing off with uptempo favorites "The Creator" & "Treat Em Right." Not too many risks being taken, but that's not what this is about: the payoff is in the details. And even though it's only been a couple years since this was made, it feels like a time capsule of the perfect NY hip hop set from many worlds ago, a time and aesthetic that's probably gone for good.

reviewed by the mgmnt