VERY BEST OF

The 1970s and '80s work of hip-hop pioneers the Last Poets is featured on this 20-track compilation, which also includes a rare recording with Jimi Hendrix. This Charly anthology of the seminal Last Poets packages tracks from their Douglas albums recorded between 1970 and 1972 -- Last Poets and This Is Madness. There are also cuts taken from Jazzoetry and Delights from the Garden. The real treasures aside from the militant soulful rap done to a polyrhythmic beat, deep jazzed-out post-bop, and the blues are the cuts taken from a 1984 12" that was issued on Celluloid and featured Jalal Nuriddin (dubbed "Lightnin' Rod") from a vintage session he did with his guitar player named Jimi Hendrix. Those tracks smoke because Hendrix's gorgeous souled-out chords create aural textures and add rhythm to the words themselves. The sound is terrific and the price is right. ~ Thom Jurek

• Genre: R&B
• Format: CD
• Released: 10/10/2006