The Very Best Of Das EFX [PA] (CD - 2001)

Additional personnel includes: Mobb Deep, KRS-One, Redman.

Producers includes: Pete Rock, DJ Premier, Derek Lynch, Easy Mo Bee, Parrish "PMD" Smith.

Compilation producer: Barry Benson.

Includes liner notes by Amy Linden.

Personnel: Bobby Sitchran (guitar); Chris Charity, Derek Lynch (scratches).

Audio Mixers: Chris Charity; Derek Lynch; Bobby Sarsur; Ivan Doc Rodriguez; Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth; Charlie Marotta.

Audio Remasterer: Dan Hersch.

Liner Note Authors: Barry Benson; Amy Linden; Steve Woolard.

Recording information: Chung King, New York, NY; D&D Studios, New York, NY; Firehouse Studios, New York, NY; Green Street Studios, New York, NY; Ian London Studios, East Islip, NY; Music Palace, Long Island, NY; North Shore Soundworks, Commack, NY; Rock 'N Reel Studio, New York, NY.

Arrangers: Chris Charity; Derek Lynch; Willie "Skoob" Hines; Andre "Krazy Drazyz" Weston.

Rhino/Elektra Traditions' 2001 release The Very Best of Das EFX is an excellent summary of the duo's seminal recordings for Elektra. When they came crashing out in 1992 with Dead Serious, the group was a bold change, thanks to their revolutionary quick-fire, stuttering delivery. The record was hailed as a mini-masterpiece, but like a lot of rap crews, what was praised upon the debut became ignored by the third, often because the once-fresh style now seemed stale, even if it was their signature sound. And, while the quality of their recordings did dip somewhat after the first album, they still turned out fine recordings, as this collection proves. True, it does tilt toward the debut, with no less than seven selections from Dead Serious, but it also contains three cuts from Straight Up Sewaside and four from 1995's Hold It Down, ending with two tracks from their final Elektra album, 1998's Generation EFX. This winds up as an excellent summary, providing a huge portion of their greatest album, with cuts from the other albums that prove they hadn't lost their talents after the debut. And while Dead Serious remains a landmark, this may be the best choice for anybody indeed wanting to hear The Very Best of Das EFX. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine minimize