Assassination Day

DSA (Dark Skinned Assassin)
-Lock Shit Down
-The Horror
-Gotta Get the Creme

1995 Doe Loe Records

Though it may appear to be just one among a whole parade of Wu-affiliated singles (though trust me, at the time this was far from a bad thing), this disc manages to outshine all of the other coattailers and, thanks to RNS's fine production, even casts a shadow over many "official" Wu releases.

After an easy half-listen or so, few would be surprised that DSA is indeed a Wu affiliate. They may, however, be surprised at just how distinctive and skillful he is on the mic. True, it's mostly the voice (that makes you buck) but, in an arguably oversaturated market, his brand of "street reality" raps paint a far more vivid and critical picture than you're average thuggerific mimic.

Back it all up with some ultra-tasty beats from RNS, one of the masterminds behind early UMC's and Shyheim projects, and it finds its way well toward the top of my list of favorites from the era.