This compilation was apparently only released in Japan and features some tracks from 'TP.3 Reloaded' and live versions of tracks from 'Chocolate Factory' and 'Happy People / U Saved Me'. Of the new tracks, 'Africa' and 'Front Line' feel very much like something off the 'U Saved Me' disc of the previously mentioned album. There are some remixes also, one of which is Jennifer Lopez's 'Baby I Love You', Twista's 'So Sexy', and also some tracks Kells has featured on like, Syleena Johnson's 'Hypnotic' and 'Pick Up the Phone' which is from the '2 Fast 2 Furious Soundtrack'. Well worth listening to for fans. Best Tracks: Hypnotic, Sex in the Kitchen Album, Baby I Love You, You Kept My Fire Burning, You Save Me (Live Version).

This is very different from R. Kelly's last albums, 'Chocolate Factory' and 'Happy People/U Saved Me', as, as the title suggests, the subjects sang about are closer to his earlier albums. So if you're not a fan of the '12 Play' type of lyrics you won't like most of this album, but if you like most of his older stuff I think you will like enough of this album. On the production side of things, apart from the Scott Storch produced opener, a lot of it is your usual R. Kelly slow jamz type of production. Not all of it works though, 'Remote Control', where he is high pitched for the whole track, and 'Touchin' are the worst slow jamz here and get boring. And of the more upbeat tunes, 'Reggae Bump Bump' is something a touch different than R. Kelly has done in the past and is dancehall influenced, it's okay but gets a lil monotonous. The beat needs some variation midway through, and 'Girls Go Crazy' falls into a similar problem-the beat ain't good enough. You still get some great slow jamz like 'In the Kitchen', 'Kickin' It With Your Girlfriend' and 'Sex Weed'. Some good hip hop influenced tracks such as 'Playas Only' and 'Happy Summertime', and it would be remiss of me not to mention the 'Trapped In The Closest chapters which offer good variety and are a momentous moment in modern music. Which some have referred to as the 'Plan 9 from Outer Space' of music. There are flaws but it's well worth checking out for the best it offers. Best Tracks: Playa's Only, Happy Summertime, In the Kitchen, Kickin' It With Your Girlfriend, Sex Weed, Trapped in the Closet Chapter 2 Apparent original tracklisting: 1. In the Kitchen 2. T-Shirt 3. Piper, The 4. In the Kitchen 5. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 1 6. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 2 7. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 3 8. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 4 9. Trapped in the Closet Chapter 5 10. Slow Wind 11. Supa Dupa Man 12. Hit It Til the Morning 13. Reggae Bump, Bump 14. Touchin 15. Kiss You in Those Places 16. Heaven Chose You 17. Prelude 18. T-Shirt (remix) 19. Playa's Only

I've been going through the top 100 hip hop charts, and listening to what I haven't got around to yet. After going through 10-15 of them, many have been underwhelming, and expect for Fugees' 'The Score', nothing has been added to my best of the best list. Finally though, another one gives me some thorough enjoyment. I'd checked out 'Daily Operation' before this and found it solid, but I'm not sure if it is just because I'm more used to it, but I find Guru sounding more awake on this, the beats are more jazzy and enjoyable, and there are more attention-grabbing tracks. It could have possibly used a feature or two, but nevertheless, it is a very consistent 50 minutes of early '90s hip hop. Best Tracks: Step in the Arena, Here Today, Gone Tomorrow, Take a Rest, As I Read My S-A

It's a shame that some average rappers get hooked up with acclaimed producers. Just look at 'Madvillainy'. The vapid Doom ruined any chance I would have had in enjoying that album. While Guru is not on that level of lethargy, he reminds me of PMD in that he definitely sounds like he could've used some caffeine before hitting the mic. It isn't to the level of not enjoying the album because of the MC, but I can't help but feel that with someone with some more enthusiasm and not such a monotone delivery that the album could be better. On to the beats and they're fairly raw and ol' school, sound a bit dated these days, and are not DJ Premier's best work, that would arguably come over the following few years in my opinion. In saying that, I enjoy the more jazz-influenced beats on the previous 'Step In the Arena' more so, so make of that what you will. Plenty of these are solid and the album has taken a few listens to enjoy it, but listening to this for the first time in 2011, it doesn't put me in a state of euphoria like the best of the best. Best Tracks: Flip the Script, Soliloquy of Chaos, 2 Deep, No Shame in My Game

I'm a fan of Apollo Brown, so I was surprised that this release slipped past me upon its release. However, having heard and enjoyed a lot of his material, I don't think by not checking this out that I have missed a lot. A few of the beats sound really similar to some stuff from other releases, and not much pops out at all. 'Clouds' is fairly distinctive, but if you've heard a lot of his other projects, you could feel too much familiarity in the beats from Apollo. For example, 'Higher' is really good, but I really feel as if I've heard it before... Maybe it's a reused beat. The rapper, Hassaan, also spits similar lyrics to what was on The Left's 'Gas Mask', that Apollo produced, and he doesn't have that x-factor to make the 15 tracks reach the next level as a whole. 2.5-3 / 5. Best Tracks: Something, Tell Me, Megaphone, Higher, Like a Diamond