Don't let the name fool you. Even though Jeep Beat Collective [ tickets ] sounds like a clan of hip-hop junkies, the entire collective is made up of one person -- a fact that is even more amazing once you hear the album. Ruf, a British DJ, has been recording as Jeep Beat Collective since '95, but this 2-CD set marks his first American release. Culled from albums previously released in England, this double disc turntable wet dream stands on it's own as a complete and utterly amazing document.

Seamlessly mixed and sequenced, this 19 track compilation dazzles with sheer hip-hop bravado and turntable skills beyond belief. Going way beyond simple scratching and sampling, Technics Chainsaw Massacre turns into a high energy hip-hop wake-up call. Blending beats and vocals from such unlikely sources as Tear For Fears and Soul Coughing along with many other hip-hop staples, it's a true thrill to hear each track unfold. When Ruf mixes in the vocal hook, ''Rap is something you do, hip-hop is something you live,'' it really rings true.

The selections and mixes on this record represent more than a casual interest in hip-hop. Only someone neck deep in the movement could come up with something this stunning.

More and more it's becoming clear that mixing is the new jazz, and the results are often impressive. The DJ culture has spawned many amazing turntablists who regard their records and turntables as instruments, and it's not as far-fetched as one might think. The Beat Junkies, Invisibl Skratch Piklz and The X-ecutioners, all Americans, have established themselves stateside with great success. Now it's time for Ruf's Jeep Beat Collective to cross the Atlantic and take it's rightful place among hip-hop's top innovators.

Jeep Beat Collective / Technics Chainsaw Massacre
Bomb Records
4 out of 4 stars