Streetchamp [PA] (CD - 2007)

Audio Mixer: DJ Premier.

Recording information: HeadQcuorterz, New York, NY; Smoke City Studio, Attleboro, MA.

A Gang Starr-affiliate since the mid 1990s, Big Shug had put in major work with various memorable guest verses and singles before scoring his first full-length album, NEVER SAY DIE, in 2005. Two years later, Shug returns with his sophomore effort, STREETCHAMP. Backed by raw street-level production courtesy of Moss and DJ Premier (who provides three tight tracks), the Mattapan representative verbally slap-boxes, tossing hard-hitting lyrics that are more force than finesse and never stray far from hood topics. Sure to become a slept-on classic, STREETCHAMP features guest spots from Sean Price, Big Twin, Singapore Kane, and Dre Robinson. minimize