Fantastic, Vol. 2

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.