No matter what you say or think, the underground always leads the way. The mainstream, MTV, radio acts might have the fame and the money but the underground has always been the ones to innovate and bring about change. The Icons are definitely one such group that not only innovates but also puts a fresh spin on a tried and true, classic Hip-Hop style: Beats and Lyrics.

Although this album, What Legends Are Made Of..., was released in 1998, the re-release shows that it is still relevant for the time. Getting back to the basic elements is what makes this such a classic. Just seeing the logo of the four elements of Hip-Hop on the cover lets you know you are getting raw uncut art. Whether it's the fast and furious flow of "Yackitty-Shhhmackitty," or the break-dancer anthem "Bomb-Bay," this album has something for everyone. "We Seen Ya Kind" and "Fools w/No Rhyme Skills" are shameless attacks on wack MC's while "Battle, Battle" shows what will happen if you are foolish enough to step to them.

With two MC's and two DJ's making up the four member group, it is the perfect combination of talent and skill. Each member watches the others back and fills in the holes to complete the package. Like they say there is strength in numbers and the magic number here is four. Precision turntable work by DJ's H.O.P. and Demon and clever rhymes schemes by Frosty da Know-Matic and Ech-U-Sketch are displayed with perfection throughout the album. "Peep What I Wrote" and "Inner Sanctum" are great examples of sure-fire underground classics. And for the added bonus, the Icons threw in a new track, "I So Vicious," to show what is coming in the future and give a treat back to their fans.

This album is one of those rare gems that can make you realize what Hip-Hop is really about. It's not about having a Rolex and driving a Benz. It's about making a hard, drum-oriented beat that is laced with a skilled DJ and an MC displaying some nice wordplay. It gets right to the heart of what makes classic Hip-Hop and it innovates for that reason. If you are someone show is looking for that next big thing or just someone who appreciates Hip-Hop, make sure this album is in your collection.

By JC

To purchase a copy of What Legends Are Made Of....., contact Frosty at: 619-904-5503 or 1-888-234-9446