Despite the fact that record companies in America have failed to reap the rewards that a great compilation album can bring, Rawkus Records who are an independent hip hop label have managed to discover the benefits of a great compilation and this happened with the release of their first compilation "Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1" (although they have as yet to release a follow up). The album includes tracks by artists on their own roster and to complement them they invited some of the most respected artists in the game to provide contributions such as Q-Tip, De La Soul, Kool Keith, Blackstar, Common , Bahamadia and Black Thought. The fact that these MC's are among the most socially conscious provides for a great album and some of the best lyrics sung over the freshest New York underground beats. Overall it provides for one of the freshest hip hop albums of the late nineties.