LORD FINESSE 'From The Crates To The Files'

Like all the best releases, this one appeared on shelves worldwide with little hype or fanfare. No sleevenotes, just a black record sleeve with a photocopied image of the artist and tracklisting. Nothing else is necessary because the content here speaks for itself.

Short of spending some serious cash (we're talking a lottery windfall) and several years of crate digging, this limited edition release is the only way to amass Finesse's finest moments on vinyl. Considering the degree of respect Lord Finesse has amassed as both the emcee's emcee- a bonafide legend on the mic, and as an influential producer, the release of this double vinyl retrospective comes as no surprise.

Pitched somewhere between a 'best of...' compilation and a collection of rarities, the newcomers can use 'From The Crates To The Files' to obtain classics like 'Yes You may', 'Return Of The Funkyman' and 'Shorties Kaught Up In The System' whilst collectors can foam at the mouth over the Extra P session mix of 'Isn't He Something' and the original version of 'You Know What I'm About' with a mic ripping guest appearance from Lennox Avenue's finest- Big L.

Inevitably, some trainspotters are going to squabble over the tracklisting, given the size of the great man's back catalogue, but the rest of us can sit back and appreciate pure lyricism over those hardcore Diggin' In The Crates beats that we know and love. This all leaves one question- when can we expect volume two?