Replenish the snifter and gather round the stere-ereo as the sounds of excellent so-called underground rap music tantalize your ear canals on the latest edition of Chairman Jefferson Mao’s *Across 135th Street*. From the hood luxury exuberance of *Meyhem Lauren* & *Buckwild* through the frigid street vignettes of Apollo Brown and *Roc Marciano* to a real crime narrative from Yahzeed, a remixed classic from *D.I.T.C.* and Preemo, and a “Doe”pe posthumous release from *J Dilla*, the bar for these bars ‘n’ beats has been set to a suitably impressive height. Figure in additional instrumental track work from Supa Dave West, Nick Speed, Denmark Vessey and *Tall Black Guy* and the program and the knock factor risin’ is undoubtedly nothing surprising.
