Uncut Raw

Chicago/Akron duo Selfish (rhymes) and Fluent (beats), collaborating on their debut as UNCUT RAW, bring it back to a time when "Underground Hip Hop" meant major label refugees: MF Doom's first solo single on Fondle 'em, KOOL KEITH's post-Ultramagnetics work, Rawkus Records' early output.

This album draws very favorable comparisons to both Doom and Madlib, with long, dusted samples, soulful and jazzy loops, complete with album crackle coming together to form a blunted sound collage combined with a laid back vocal delivery recalling Mad Skillz (pre-"Skillz" moniker), or Dilated Peoples – definitely indy. With only one featured artist on the album, Butta Verses (as featured on every De La Soul album), this is unpretentious, pure Hip Hop.

The initial self-released run of "First Toke" on Green Llama records sold out, but drew heavy internet chatter comparing it to Jay Dee and coming out on top in a side-by-side comparison to the "Madvillainy" album. On OkayPlayer.com, the album got four "Questies" and garnished this review, "a raw, dusty, creative effort that deserves to be heard by fans of the most pure essence of Hip Hop… no stand-out tracks here, per se- sure but over time the entire album proves to deliver a more potent effect when taken as a whole."

This album will appeal to fans of Native Tongues, Madlib/Stones Throw, Cypress Hill's 1st album, Edan, MF Doom.