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spotlight!

By Celia Herrera
cherre12@mscd.edu

Remember when hip-hop music was just music and there were no 'fake' rappers, no 'industry beef' and emcees could just rhyme without being categorized as underground, East Coast, or gangsta? Those days are long over, but Low Budget Soul: Colorado Hip- Hop Movement Vol. 1 is proof that the original emcee still lives-you just have to know where to dig.

Low Budget Soul is an honest tribute to hip-hop-an independently released compilation that embraces numerous talented artists from Colorado. The album opens with a brief shout-out intro and immediately jumps into "The Revolushun"- a high-energy track about liberating the ghetto mentality, making for a promising start to the CD.

Hands up for lyricist Dent, who not only appeared on eight of the 21 tracks on the disc, but was also the co-executive for the project. With tracks like "Pushin' On," Dent brings back the old school with style. His light lyrics and distinctive voice call decades past back to life, Fraggle Rock lunchbox and all.

The compilation serves everything on the menu from jazzy party tracks like "The Zigga Zig" by The Fly, to cuts addressing the negative impact of mass media on the young.

Other tracks include veteran Colorado artists such as Chill ("The DC Connection"), Ground Zero Movement ("Word Play of Life"), Brown Bombers ("Messin' Around"), and Azma ("Hell Ya!!!"). The production has a thoroughly professional sound that even a 1989 Kenwood stereo will thump.

For information on where to get a copy, email solpowa@yahoo.com