It's inaccurate to say that D.I.T.C. counts among hip-hop's “could-have-beens” since they rarely even “were” — the sprawling crew always functioned better as loose parts than as a whole. But on the rare occasion that D.I.T.C.'s core members — Lord Finesse, Showbiz and A.G., Diamond D, Fat Joe, O.C., Buckwild and the late, great Big L — came together, they created the kind of music (tough drum breaks, thick, grimy bass lines and boisterously ignorant rhymes) that no doubt soundtracks many a New York rap purist's goose-downiest dreams.

The collection features some overlooked EP tracks (Showbiz and A.G.'s “Drop It Heavy,” featuring KRS-One and Big Pun), remixes and one-off singles. D.I.T.C. orbiters Freddie Foxxx (“I Come 2 War”) and Milano (“Rep for the Slums”) are given space to shine, but the collection is undoubtedly highlighted by D.I.T.C.'s most famous singles, “Day One,” the Cat Stevens-filching “Internationally Known” and the sinister DJ Premier-produced “The Enemy.” This last trio ranks among the finest recorded moments from Big L, a Harlem rapper who was tragically murdered in 1999, on the eve of signing with Roc-A-Fella. As a mentor to Cam'ron and Mase (they were all members of Harlem's unwieldy… read more »