This came out in 1999 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
What do you call a rapper without a beatbox, a turntablist without any records, an emcee without a posse and a mixmaster without any equipment?
Well, normally, you’d call them unemployed. But not Rahzel (it rhymes with Gazelle), human beatbox for The Roots. Armed with just a microphone and his mouth, he can (and on this jaw-dropping debut, does) duplicate the sounds of drum machines, synthesizers, various pieces of percussion, skipping records, revved-up (or slowed-down) turntables and multiple studio effects. And he does it all at once — and while rapping. Rahzel must be heard to be believed — and even then, it’s still pretty unbelievable.
