Various Artists Young N Restless Vol 1 LP
Do I seriously have to review this?! If you've been on a different planet or in a different country for the last three years then perhaps, just perhaps, you've not heard of YNR, possibly the most consistent hiphop label originating from these shores, over a dozen releases (in three years, note to other labels - quality not quantity) and a couple of affiliations they've been a constant shining star in the ebbs and flows of other labels and artists. that gushing enough? ok onto the tracks.
15 tracks, 67 minutes, 11 YNR cuts, and one each from Sit Tight, Headnodd, Hidden Identity and one (presumably) from Rehab (if it ever sees the light). So the completists have an instant problem in that they should own 14 of these already, so is it worth paying a tenner or whatever for one track by Dupa Styles, produced by Cee-Why and a collection of already heards. Well, it'll protect your vinyl from getting worn out so might just be worth it...
Although undisputed quality across the tracks I was disappointed in the lack of tracks from the first three EPs, particularly when (in my opinon) some of the tracks off Time Capsule leave 'Ophelia' (Tommy Evans solo effort included here) standing, and I think that Nmonic Ep is fantastic (where is he now?)....anyway, picking hairs as usual. Production across the tracks is tiptop, as you'd expect when the producers are Evil Ed, Jehst, Harry Love, Lewis Parker, LG & Lopez and Cee-Why. Somewhat more bizarre is that Jehst, one of the best MCs associated with the label only has one vocal spot and a guestspot on one other, where Tom Evans and Yungun each get 4 spots, but no disrespecting to those two MCs as they can more than hold their own, especially Yungun on the sublime LG & Lopez produced 'City Breaks' which brings the album to a close in a nice relaxed way.
Very swish packaging (lovely gatefold cd case thing courtesy of Jeff Metal & co at Unorthodox Styles) the obligatory mediahype sticker ('A little piece of perfection' by Musik mag?!) should hopefully make this stand out in the HMV & Virgin 'Urban' racks and get this compilation purchased by some unfamiliar with whats on offer in these shores, to the rest of us we can just tip a cap in the direction of this Yorkshire come London posse and tell them to just carry on doing what they've been doing in the last four years and good things must be just around the corner.
Basically if you're not a vinyl fiend then you should get this, if you've not go the entire back catalogue of YNR then you should get this (and then buy the singles anyway for the other tracks) and even if you've got them, just get this so you can listen to it cruising in the car or on your discman. Essential album of the year. Now take it to the next level YNR and bring on the solo albums so we can see if the individual crew members can really stand up and hold their own...
- Spoon | profile
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