Formed in the late 90s to promote independent and unknown underground artists, the label lost its way with an MCA takeover in 2001 and with it the respect of the hip hop community.

Thankfully, the re-launch has come with some of the original spirit with recent albums by Kidz In The Hall (School Was My Hustle) and Pancea (Ink Is My Drink). With Port Authority we find they are now back closer to their roots and closer to the West Coast’s Up Above Records.

So what better way to get the party mix of old/new, west/east started than a guy from Toronto? Marco Polo was actually featured on Up Above’s Carving A New Standard and he’s picked up Large Professor and Low Budget Allstars’ Cy Young, Kev Brown (he of ‘When I Call’ remix) and Kaimbr.

Not only that but there’s at least three big tunes here. Hip hop baby Jaysaun has lived through it all and on ‘All My Love’ his dexterity shines. Also check the ‘Godfather’ inspired ‘Speak Softly’ (featuring Jo Jo Pellegrino) and ‘War’ with Kardinal Offishall.

For old skool fans, you’ve got to get ‘Nostalgia’ by Masta Ace, aka Master Ace as on Brand New Heavies’ ‘Wake Me When I’m Dead’ from 1992! Now that’s what I call nostalgia.

The Brand New Heavies were old favs of Gilles Peterson while last year, his big tip for future stardom was J*Davey. He said they were, “better than Sa-Ra” and they turn up here on the bonus track ‘Relax’.

If you can’t wait for the album, get a taster from the cover disc of May’s Hip Hop Connection with its Rawkus feature. Marco Polo, now resident in New York, took 3 years to produce this album and it’s his testament to when hip hop meant something. Marco, when it’s as good as this, it still does mate.

Reviewed: Marco Polo — Port Authority (Rawkus) Release date: 7th May 2007

Links:
www.marcopolobeats.com
www.rawkus.com
www.mastaace.com
www.myspace.com/jdavey
Gilles Peterson :: Thursday 5 April 2007 :: Zane Lowe (sitting in) inc. Damon Albarn in the studio talking about afro-beat & Zane’s Golden era hip hop for ageing b boys and b girls
Main Source — ‘Live at the Barbeque’ (Witch Pitch Records)
Showbiz and AG — ‘Fat Pockets’ (Polygram)
Ghostface Killah — ‘Daytona 500’ (Epic)
J.V.C Force — ‘Strong Island’ (B Boy Records)
Grand Puba- ‘Check Tha Resume’ (Elektra/Wea)
Pete Rock & CL Smooth- ‘T.R.O.Y’ (EMI)
Tribe Called Quest — ‘Check the Rhyme’ (Jive)
De La Soul — ‘Ego Trippin’ (Big Life)
Beatnuts — ‘Props Over Here’ (Relativity)
Greg Nice and Smooth B — ‘Funky For You’ (Fresh)
Jurassic 5 — ‘What’s Golden’ (Interscope)
Jnerio Jnel — ‘On The Doelow’ (Lex)
Gilles Peterson :: Thursday 24 May 2007 :: Elektrons
Marco Polo ft J Davey - ‘Relax’ (Rawkus)
A Tribe Called Quest - ‘Start It up’ (Jive)