Afros And Anthems Vol 1 touts itself as "a collection of Philly's new music scene." If that new scene is one of driving, certified funk led by a band of cool ass whiteboys then the mission has been accomplished. 215 Records throws out tracks that attack from the rock side while keeping a firm foot in legitimate Hip Hop at all times. Think of Cypress Hill and a phatter Limp Bizkit thrown into a blender with a healthy dose of reverence for Hip Hop culture and you have the ingredients needed for this delicious compilation.

Things get off to a blazing start with the straight underground sounds of Rummages's Cognition. His conversational flow melds well with the hot and heavy backbeat and funky breaks. Don't sleep. Don't sleep on the better than Limp Bizkit Limp Bizkit like sounds of The Next either. SubHoodz hit this one right on the sweet spot of the bat and knock it out the park. The track is a true head knocker. The MC Lyte cut is tight as hell and the vocal delivery is partytime fun. This is the type of track that Hip Hoppers around the globe will appreciate when they're exposed to it. Other standout cuts include the clever reggae stylings of Sound Bwoy Dustoff by Stress, Freedom & Ron G (not the NYC mixtape master) and the bouncy radio-ready, Snoop Doggy Dogg inspired Gutter Music from Splitt. But wait... the funk doesn't end there. The Have Nots contribute a mixtape friendly Strong Enough and Rummage returns to drop the equally mixtape ready, Cypress Hill influenced Protein Bar. In a crowded field of hot hits The Have Nots ode entitled How Ya Doin? is arguably Afros And Anthems best track. Its major league from top to bottom. I know I've been running it in the ride myself. Y'all mixtape DJs better recognize and not sleep on this one. I bet Jay-Ski would spin this one on Fundamentals...

All I can think of to rap this up is DON"T SLEEP.

Review by Funk Wizard Snow
Editor- PhillyHipHop.com
January, 2002