One of the best trends occuring in Hip-Hop right now is something I can’t complain about. Legitimate old school Emcee’s are finally releasing unreleased, Vinyl only material seeing the light of day on compact disc and mp3 formats. (some for the very first time on digital media) It’s a huge bonus for Hip-Hop purists and collectors who had an even harder time finding these releases when they first dropped. A lot of thanks are in order for this one… Edo G.’s “Acting” EP is finally released thanks to the Good people at Traffic Entertainment. Joe Mansfield and Edo dug out all the original reels and dats from the sessions and packaged it into an 18-track full length album with all new artwork, the original track listing as well as a gang of unreleased bonus tracks, remixes, interludes and a capellas. What more can you ask for?

“Acting” fronted as a follow up EP to his acclaimed albums “Life Of A Kid In The Ghetto” and “Roxbury 02119.” The release was only available on wax as an import from Japan. The news of this limited EP was only word of mouth from peeps who heard how sick the album was. (I never got a chance to hear it until now) After 3 repeats on my iPOD, I’d like to call “Acting” a great follow up to his first 2 albums. The album is also packed with bonus instrumentals and remixes which made it a plus for the purchase. These days, Best buy might add a free ringtone or downloadable wallpaper yet “Acting” boasts 2 additional accapella verses (“Acting” and “Dedicated” tracks) and 3 remixes (of the same name alongside “What you Got”)

The album features production duties by the Vinyl Reanimators and Edo G. and features cuts and scratches by DJ Shame and Nestle Quick. “What’s the deal” features a hard beat with that D.I.T.C. sound featuring a young sounding Big Shug (Gangstarr Foundation) and the late (great) Scientifik on the mic. I can’t decide what version of “What you got” I like more… the original session or the remix that comes off like an excellent Pete Rock rendition on the beats. Both tracks are hot. The opening track “Acting” has that great 90’s feeling groups like The Artifacts and The Boogie Monsters (2nd album) boasted in sound and style around the midway part of the 90’s. “Dedicated” compliments the opening track with an even smoother beat rocked by Edo’s lyrical style and finesse. The overall quality is a blessing contributed by Edo’s choice cuts and rhyme and reason characteristics as a lyricist. I couldn’t be more happier for this release!

With so much material flooding the market year after year, I’m very grateful there are labels like Traffic who contribute in making excellent releases like “Acting” available to heads who still crave for 90’s Hip-Hop. Maybe Traffic can help PMD reissue “Shade Business” and “Business as usual?”

Don’t sleep on the tracks!
1. Intro
2. Acting
3. Dedicated
4. Feeling You
5. Living with a Trick
6. Interlude 1
7. What U Got
8. What’s the Deal - Big Shug, Edo.G., Scientifik
9. What U Got [Remix]
10. Night Like This
11. Interlude 2
12. Showing Skills
13. 304’s
14. Dedicated [Remix]
15. Acting [Remix]
16. Outro
17. Acting [Acapella]
18. Dedicated [Acapella]