Record Rack

*** D.I.T.C., “D.I.T.C.,” Tommy Boy. This eight-man crew of respected yet underappreciated underground hip-hop stars (whose initials represent its former name, Diggin’ in the Crates, as in crates of albums) delivers a solid, brag-heavy album. Rappers Fat Joe, Diamond, O.C., Lord Finesse, A.G. and the late Big L specialize in clever, punch-line-heavy lyrics that work well with the gritty, drum-driven beats backing them. The only weak spots on the 15-cut collection are the watered-down, geared-for-radio songs that undermine the group’s musical and lyrical intensity.

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Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent). The albums are already released unless otherwise noted.