Azeem Craft Classic

• Words: James Mayo
• Label: Oaklyn
• XLR8R Rating: /10

Released during Dubya's first year in office, when the King and his court began plotting their imperial designs, this once out-of-print record still sounds relevant with tracks like "Bush is a Gangsta." Originally limited to 3,000 copies, the Oakland-based MC has re-mastered his full-length debut (minus three tracks), featuring some of the Bay's best hip-hop producers. Azeem attacks a beat like E-40 on a bender at a poetry reading, and cuts like the self-identity-dissecting "Imma Rmx," with its stream-of-consciousness flow, should impress the Def Poetry crowd. Unfortunately, Azeem discarded the prose poem "God's Rolex," but tracks like "Rubber Glue," where he plays a wack rapper, should have fans fiending for a new record-hopefully to hit before Bush's impeachment proceedings begin.