In the late 1990s, it"s hip-hop that seems to blow up from local scenes to national attention on the basis of a couple of strong artists and an entrepreneurial label; witness the ascension of Eightball, Master P, and Jay-Z. In may be in that spirit--though not the post-gangsta sound favored by those three--that Classic Elements was put together. And while the album is a showcase for a few genuine talents (Producer DJ Sayeed, Ghetto Children, and Source of Labor primary among them), the majority of the album features MCs that are not yet ready for prime time. It"s a shame, because the production deserves far better, with Sayeed, Mathematic, and Brian Weber contributing some truly interesting backing tracks--funky, danceable, and as instrumentally adventurous as anything that Wu-Tang"s RZA has done to date. --Randy Silver