Freddie Foxxx has been murdering other people's tracks for years with his "fake pimp free flow" (in the words of another hip-hop prophet, Jeru the Damaja). After paying all possible dues over the course of a decade in hip-hop (he's rolled with Eric B & Rakim, Gang Starr, and M.O.P.), he's finally releasing his own album, an incisive epic that will leave many running for cover. Never one to pull punches, the man also known as Bumpy Knuckles rips into the rap industry. His infamous pair of nines are in full effect from beginning to end of this relentless album, blasting every weak link in the rap game, especially on the title track. But there's method to his madness: this articulate, self-proclaimed "intelligent thug" wants to change the racist nature of the hip-hop industry, which he analyses on "MCs Come and MCs Go." Industry Shakedown boasts straight, brilliant lyrics from beginning to end, and invigorating hard-core production from the likes of DJ Premier, Pete Rock, and Foxxx himself. Remember when hip-hop was dangerous? When it challenged the status quo? Freddie Foxxx does. --Lizz Mendez Berry