Tobacco Road

Black Patch War Black Patch War is a 7-track EP by Seattle hiphop mainstays Common Market (RA Scion on the rhymes, Sabzi of Blue Scholars on the beats). Offered as the first official follow-up to the successful eponymous debut album, Black Patch War, released on the group's own Massline Media, i...	Common Market In the 2000s, Seattle's mushrooming underground hip-hop scene revolved around Alexei Saba Mohajerjasbi, better known as DJ Sabzi, an Iranian-American producer and Northwest native. After turning heads in the 206 as part of the hip-hop duo Blue Scholars, Sabzi hooked up with RA Sc...	Bayani "Bayani" marks a creative and emotional leap forward for Blue Scholars. The four years since recording their first album has been marked by four years of war and uncertainty. People everywhere are looking for answers, growing tired of the banality and repetitiveness of the mus...	The Renaissance THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM FROM Q-TIP - "THE RENAISSANCE" The album mixes soul beats, piano, guitars, and Q-Tip's usual thoughtprovoking lyricism, which takes you on a trip from relationships and summer songs to social issues of late, and has a kind of '90s feel to it. "The Re...	Droppin' Science Fiction The Mighty Underdogs, comprised of Lateef the Truth Speaker (Latryx), The Gift of Gab (Blackalicious) and producer Headnodic, are proud to release Droppin' Science. The album features DJ Shadow, Mr. Lif, Damian "JR Gong Marley, and MF Doom, among others.
White Van Music Seattle super producer steps from behind the boards to present his own debut. Polishing his production chops over the last decade, Jake One has crafted musical soundscapes for everyone from De La Soul to 50 Cent. Featuring an engaging cast of emerging underground artists, as well...	Fun DMC As longtime fans know, though, when you hear a PUTS record, all the work, from the beats to the rhymes to the scratching to the artwork (Fun comes with a comic book written by the rappers themselves), is almost inevitably done strictly by the duo themselves. Instead of cashing in...	Blue Scholars Blue Scholars proves the immense power of hip-hop's tried and true empirical formula. The combination of Geologic's honest reflections about community and struggle with Sabzi's melodic and soulful production form a distinct sound and exceptional chemistry only exhibited by duos s...	Murs for President Murs, one of rap's biggest independent success stories and a pioneering L.A. underground hip-hop start for a decade, finally makes his major label debut with Murs For President. A vote for Murs is a vote for eclectic, genre-bending, politically charged, musically adventurous, and...	Sad Clown Bad Spring #12

a good blast of fresh air just when suffocation seemed inevitable.
This is my first review. I don't know why, but I have had a strong desire to say something on this album. Been thinking about it since I got it a couple days ago. I am very skeptical when it comes to hip hop these days. I have all but given up on it(or grown out of it). I came across this album looking through the new releases. The name was familiar and I was drawn to it. After checking the samples, I said, 'what the hell'. If I should buy some music, these guys seem like the right choice. I also read up on them a little bit. They seemed like the kinda guys I would like to hang out with. Really accessable, not that hard core "i'm a badazz" type heads. Anyways, as for the music... I do not think any hip hop released in the last 8-10 years, can even come close to this. I know that is a tall claim. But for me, nothing has grabbed me like this album has. The lyrics are honest, thought provoking, and generally playful. His delivery is so smooth and reminds me of Talib, Mos Def or Brother Ali. The message is genuine. I think his best quality is the way he bumps along over the beat. Thats the best way I can explain it. The beats are melodic and mellow. They complement the lyricist exceptionally. Overall, this release is just what I needed going into the long cold winter. A refreshing album I rarely can say about any other hip hop coming out these days. At this moment, if I were recommend an album to a fellow music lover, this would be it. My only hope for this album is that more people will come across these guys.

Emphatic 5 stars
This album is so so so so so so good. I have not been this excited for an album since... Blackalicious Nia. Seriously, the mellow soulful beats supported by one of hip-hops most soulful and spiritual MC's. I am so glad I live in Seattle. The song Nina Sing gave me goosebumps all over, this album will seriously move you. Don't sleep!!!!!

Buy It.
Just wish there were more people doing this. The underground is getting stale, everyone too into themselves and forgetting music actually has to SOUND GOOD for people to care what you have to say. (It's not 1991 people, start evolving and stop living in the past.) Sabzi knows what's up and brings crazy depth and emotion to the music. Every Sabzi-produced album feels better than the last, and this is no exception. Been playing this CD twice a day for a week now, and no signs of stopping.

Stellar...you will not be disappointed
This album is by far one of the best hip hop albums I've heard in a LONG time. It is the perfect blend of intelligent lyrics with classy rhythm. I expect this to be the album that catapults this group to another level of recognition amongst those who appreciate QUALITY music.

Great but different
Just FYI I maybe own 20 CD's 5 of which I actually bought so when I pre-ordered this cd it gives you an idea how much I support/ was looking forward to this disk. With that said it met my expectations of quality but their sound took a different interesting direction. After Black Patch War which was very powerful bass and soul laden hooks I was expecting this CD to be a banger (Think Militia by Gang Starr with political lyrics) I was very surprised to find that the group mellowed out a bit politically. While I heard the groups Producer Sabzi make mellow beats like this for Blue Scholars I was surprised to hear the same from MC Ra Scion. He seemed a bit less political but still just as issues oriented which is good. With that said it was an absolute great CD my favorite song being Winter Takes All(So Laid Back its filthy!) and only maybe 2 songs I skipped it was an excellent follow up especially considering the hype I and expectations I personally put on it. It gets 4 stars because I was expecting one "banger" like Watership Down from the Black Patch War EP, But don't let that discourage you this CD is still one of the best 2008 releases.