In Brief

*** Various artists, “Suave House Off da Chain Volume 1 2000,” Suave House/Artemis. Anchored by smooth-flowing underground legend Eightball, this 14-song rap compilation is the latest display of the extremely talented Suave House roster. Of the lesser-known artists, Gillie da Kid, Lil’ Noah and Toni Hickman deliver the most promising performances, offering chilling, street-centered tales over a variety of hard-core beats. But Eightball is the collection’s star. His clever phrasing and effortless delivery are among the best in the business.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.