Critical Beatdown

VINYL FORMAT. When discussing albums that helped to redefine rap music in the late 1980s, it would be impossible not to mention Critical Beatdown. The debut album from the Ultramagnetic MC's is one of the pinnacle releases of 1988's "new school" movement. Over frenetic, self-produced tracks that sound like the Bomb Squad beaming down from outer space, rappers Kool Keith and Ced-Gee deliver esoteric and often comical lyrics that somehow manage to retain a street attitude. It is this truly original blend that makes CRCritical Beatdown such a timeless listening experience. Standout tracks include "Ease Back" and the bona fide classic "Ego Trippin'," though every song is memorable. Why Critical Beatdown never found a mainstream audience is anyone's guess, but its influence on hip-hop cannot be understated.