By
Ian Caruth
Grade: B+
After being largely ignored for over a decade following the mainstream acceptance of hip-hop, hip-hop DJs began to regain the respect and prominence they so richly deserved during the 1990s. After stunning, revolutionary releases from DJs like Shadow and Q-bert, the DJ was recognized as more of an independent artist - the true inheritor of the musique concrte mantle.
A forward-looking innovator who has not lost sight of the origins of his craft, DJ Revolution proves to be one of the finest new-school hip-hop DJs with his second LP, In 12's We Trust.
As explicit a statement of purpose as has yet been heard from a DJ, In 12's We Trust is DJ Revolution's overt bid for recognition from all corners of the hip-hop universe. Every aspect of the album - from its name and dollar-bill style packaging to its content - is meant to reinforce the idea that deejaying is the musical currency of hip-hop.
Revolution made his name making popular mix tapes, but he certainly has not been neglecting his daily turntable practice for the last 15 years or so. He is one of the most technically adept hip-hop DJs ever to spin a record, though his turntable wizardry occasionally drifts into masturbatory grandstanding.
Revolution includes sample collages, media dialogues, cuts with talented guest MCs, a well-staged, stupendously impressive DJ battle cut and that rarest of musical animals - a funny hip-hop skit - in the diverse offerings. The album is weighted somewhat toward the front, and the cuts with MCs are by far the most compelling tracks on the album. Despite this, it is a solid document, and the perfect proof of Revolution's intended message, vocalized by one of the MCs on "The Backbone" - "If it wasn't for the DJs/ there would be no MCs."
