Lateef The Truthspeaker & Z-Trip – Ahead Of The Curve.

Collected tracks not commonly available featuring Lateef The Truth Speaker, an integral part of the Solesides collective, closely associated with Blackalicious & DJ Shadow, Latryx, Lifesavas, Poets of Rhythm, perhaps best know for his chart-topping singles with Fatboy Slim “That Old Pair of Jeans” and “Wonderful Night”.

This collection features original production and remixes by DJ Z-Trip, arguably the first “mash-up” DJ, who has collaborated with Murs, Lyrics Born, Busdriver, Supernatural, others, and who was featured in the 2001 documentary “Scratch”. Guests on this CD include DJ Shadow, Chali 2na (Jurassic 5), Rakka (Dilated Peoples), Gift Of Gab, Soup, Fingerbangerz, Slug, Dj Zeph, Chief Xcel, E-40, Chubb Rock, Maroons, and more. Deluxe packaging with O-Card, limited edition.

Ahead of the Curve Review

“Though it's relegated to a Japan-only release, Ahead of the Curve stands as the best Quannum collection since the original Quannum Spectrum. It's a mix album with tracks old and new, remixes, new productions, and plenty of contributions from Quannum associates (DJ Shadow, various members of Jurassic 5 and Blackalicious) as well some beat-driven all-stars (Q-Tip, Fatboy Slim, Chubb Rock). The first track, "Watch Out!,” kicks with a loose trap drum, but most of the beats aren't rare groove specials – they're big technoid monsters with brief bursts of samples and heavy claps. As on Quannum Spectrum, there are a few of the expected R&B joints to balance the hip-hop, but also plenty of excellent Lateef productions and Z-Trip turntablism. Surprises may be few, but they're plenty of fun, including a twisted freestyle on Pink Floyd's “Time” with vocals by Gift of Gab, a haunted-sounding Latyrx on “Hard Left Remix” with Lateef's own vocals, and Chubb Rock's appearance on the very golden age-sounding “Grammy Got Run Over by a Reindeer.” John Bush, Allmusic