Soundbombing II

Soundbombing 2 was released on the seminal but now defunct Rawkus Records in 1999. The album is considered a contemporary classic, a synthesis of the underground hip-hop rennaisance of the late 90's. It is structured as a "mixtape" hosted by 2/7ths of the legendary Beat Junkies, J-Rocc and Babu. The West Coast Beat Junkies were an inspired choice to scratch and mix the mostly East Coast sounds.

Soundbombing 2 mixed up-and-coming rappers with established legends. It was the last time we would hear a hungry Eminem rap over underground beats with no attempt at crossover appeal. Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow and Pharaohe Monch all went on to record classic Rawkus releases, each earning legendary status as emcees. After Rawkus crumbled, Soundbombing 2 alums The High and Mighty and Company Flow's El-P started hip hop labels Eastern Conference Records and Definitive Jux. Along with established heavyweights like Brand Nubian, Diamond D and Pharoahe Monch, unsung heroes and heroines like the trash-talking R.A. tha Rugged Man and reflective Bahamadia widened the variety of viewpoints, while maintaining a staunchly independent credibility.

Soundbombing 2 is a predominantly East Coast statement. Tash, The Dilated Peoples, and the Beat Junkies themselves are the only West Coast representatives. Eminem and Common hold down the Midwest. The rest of the album is a showcase of the old and new Northeast.

The album maintains it's longevity due to the feeling that all the hip-hop planets lined up to make it. From originators like Marley Marl (even if it's just a shoutout) to those Rawkus artists that re-invented the wheel, the album had and has a feeling of torch-passing that was and is palpable. If late-nineties progressive hip-hop had a mission statement, this is it.