Fantastic, Vol. 2

Performer: Slum Village
Artist: Busta Rhymes; Q-Tip; D'Angelo; Kurupt; Pete Rock; Common
Distributor: IDN Distribution

Notes: Slum Village: Jay Dee, T-3, Baatin. Additional personnel: Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, D'Angelo, Kurupt, Pete Rock, Jazzy Jeff. Recorded at Studio A, Dearborn, Michigan; Electric Lady and Unique Sound, New York, New York; RJ Rice Studios, Southfield, Michigan. When A&M Records shelved the release of Slum Village's first proper album in 1998, it seemed only a minor setback given that the group's legend was already growing via bootlegged demos of their debut (FAN-TAS-TIC VOL. 1) and the solo success of founding member J Dilla. Belated but still miles ahead of the curve, the Detroit-based group's (almost) major-label premiere, FANTASTIC, VOL. 2, finally arrived in 2000 to great critical applause and lukewarm sales. Not-quite-ready-for-prime-time, but deserving of classic hip-hop status all the same, the album features Dilla's subtle, soulful production vibe, alongside a bevy of guest rhymesmiths including Q-Tip, Common, and Busta Rhymes.

Rolling Stone (8/17/00, pp.109-10) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "...It's Native Tongues hip-hop the way it should be done, right down to the low-key voices that fade away behind the Harvey's Bristol Cream-texture synths..." Entertainment Weekly (6/23/00, p.102) - "...This impressive debut argues a resurgence for low-octane rap..." - Rating: B+ Alternative Press (7/00, p.111) - 4 out of 5 - "...The greatest hip-hop group you've never heard of. And from the quiet, introspective, hushed-funk sound of this record, they don't care. And it's exactly this in-their-own-little-world quality that makes [their] debut this year's contender for the year-end Top-10 lists..." The Wire (6/00, pp.57-8) - "...Anti-baller pro-pleasure....the most gratifying HipHop album since Mos Def's BLACK ON BOTH SIDES." Muzik (9/99, p.73) - 5 stars out of 5 - "...FANTASTIC VOL II has something for everybody: cerebral sex rhymes...juicy block party funk...superior skits...and a stellar line-up of guests....Can SLum Village kick it? Yes they can." CMJ (6/5/00, p.31) - "...The trio waves its Native Tongues flag high and proud in a [Detroit] landscape....exhibiting the true magic of these 3 sons of the 'Quest." Vibe (8/00, p.168) - "...An entertaining LP that's relaxed without being boring. Put your headphones down, lower the volume on your stereo, and prepare for a Zen-like experience." The Source (5/99, p.214) - 3.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...T-3, Jaydee and Baatin provide the right combination of humor, arrogance and unmistakable mic talent....overall FANTASTIC is a mellow album with plenty of non-skippable material..." Rap Pages (7/00, p.53) - "...A very good hip hop album....memorable & nonetheless important..." NME (Magazine) (5/27/00, p.40) - 6 out of 10 - "...gold dust on the hip-hop bootleg circuit....there are no pimps, no niggaz, and even the swearing is delivered with urchin charm..."

Fixtures of Detroit's underground hip-hop scene, Slum Village managed to persevere despite several line-up changes, mental illness, and deaths in the family. The group originally formed in the mid '90s as the trio of Baatin, T3, and the soon-to-be legendary DJ/MC Jay Dee. Dilla left in 2002 and was replaced by rapper Elzhi, who would stay on following Baatin's departure due to struggles with schizophrenia. Despite the tumult, Slum Village released numerous excellent recordings that harked back to hip-hop's golden age, replete with jazzy licks, clever lyrics, and a consciousness vibe associated with a bygone era in rap. Sadly, Slum Village was dealt another blow when alum J Dilla passed away in 2006 from complications due to Lupus.

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