“If deep in the past, you’ve been around in hip hops cyber underground then you’ve most likely heard of crews such as Redline, S.O.Z., S.B.F., K.N.O., V.V.C., Continuum, Mpire, and certainly I.C.U.. You’ve also probably heard of artists such as King Trix, Kashal Tee, Prestige, Tack Fu, and Tony Infamous. I.C.U. was one of the first of the “elite hip hop cyber underground” crews to put together some of the best underground compilations to come out in the late nineteen nineties, which initially introduced us to some of the dopest underground artists of today, Tack Fu, Kashal Tee, and Tony Infamous among others. I.C.U.’s main goal was to create a “revolutionary hip-hop organization whose goal is to preserve hip-hop culture through a unified nation.””
This album, a 1997 release, is an inspiration to up and coming artists world wide. Put together simply out of love for hip hop, the artists featured on this album exhibit a higher degree of intensity, heart, desire, and determination than most. Artists such as Tack Fu, and Tony Infamous provide outstanding performances in their contributions to this albums success. This album was a global effort, and truly a positive sign of what artists world wide can accomplish when they come together.
“Keep it true” by ” Tony Infamous, and “Bandwagons” by “Ill Freckuency”, are among two of the best tracks featured on the album. Tony Infamous puts together a delightful hip hop gem, delivering a raw message to fans word wide, by use of tight lyrical content, delivery, and talent. Ill Freckuency delivers another positive message with “Bandwagons”, chalking up another hip hop gem / quotable for the underground hip hop books.
One of the absolute tightest introductions you will ever hear on an underground album is the “intro” put together by Don DJ King Trix. An outstandingly hot performance, by an outstanding talented artist.
Rarely is an underground compilation without its weak points; thus, neither is this album. Performances by “Viscous” in “BattleKatz”, “The Introduction” by “Mike”, and “Dippin yo brain” by “Smoove J” remind us that this is an underground album, that does hold room for improvement. One strong attribute these tracks have, like the rest of the tracks on this album, is that they are all rawly original, and inspirational.
Overall, this album is a true inspiration to underground artists world wide. Produced out of pure love for hip hop, “Who’s Tru?” is an album you can feel, and certainly vibe. Its doubtful you will be able to purchase this album, but if you come across it, its certainly something to put in rotation.
Track Listing:
Intro – Don DJ King Trix
Ill Compositions Unleashed – Ill Freckuency
Kashflow – Kashal Tee
Ballad Of A Flexible Bullet – Architects of Intellect
It its not hip hop – Prestige
Fright Night – Prestige
Universal Beatdown – Beatsnatchers
Killa Motive Crimes – Central Enfluence
Blue Line Remnants – Improwise
Five Corners – Da Pentagon
Tin Can Remedies – Tack Fu featuring Unkut Dope
Bandwagons – Ill Freckuency
I get Inside – Dolio The Slueth
The Introduction – Mike
Keep It True – Tony Infamous
Nocturnal Journal – Improwise
Dippin yo Brain – Smoove J
Squads Theme – RipSquad
Battlekatz – Viscous
Lay In The Light – Crut
Tha Getaway – The Hooligan Click
Phunk Madniz – PW aka Da Litl Man
Hip Hop Part 2 – Don DJ King Trix
Outroduction – Nakamura The Nasty Ninja
