What has always exemplified the Jazzmatazz series is Guru's ability to bring together jazz legends like Branford Marsalis, Donald Byrd, Ramsey Lewis, and Roy Ayers, with female vocalists such as Dionne Farris, N'Dea Davenport, Carleen Anderson and Chaka Khan, to lend extra weight to his established persona as a confident, laid-back, yet street grimy MC.

This newly released mix, which includes tracks from "Jazzmatazz/The Hip-Hop Messenger" (released last summer), boasts Doo-Wap as the mixtape host of a journey that stomps through classic riffs and reframes them with the assistance of producer Solar, aided by the literate tongue-flips of California MCs Zion I and Aceyalone, Boston's Mr. Lif, North London's fiery Yungun, and Philly's famed C. Knowledge, while following hip-hop tradition by claiming spots for new 7 Grand label acts Ms. Camille, K. Born and Highpower. Classic rhymestylin' from Gang Starr's big tracks like "Soliloquey of Chaos" or "Moment of Truth" can be glimpsed on "Stand Up (Some Things'll Never Change)" with Jamaican star Damian Jr. Gong Marley. The best standout track is "State of Clarity," the Solar remix, featuring conscious wordsmith Common alongside Bob James. Noticeably missing from this edition is a new MC to be catapulted into fame like French MC Solaar, who benefited from the exposure to US audiences after being featured on Volume 1. And sure, it's a weighty challenge to outdo previous collaborations, like Jazzmatazz's Streetsoul release with the Grammy award-winning talent of Herbie Hancock. Instead for Volume 4, he chose the warm horn tones of alto saxophonist David Sanborn and singer Caron Wheeler. Yet still the jazz to the future feel, with a little lounge and stride, takes flight.

It's a welcome comeback after recent years of popped-out hip hop that prefers to aim straight for jugular tech beats. If anything it's a much-needed education for the new listener to learn about the heavyweights musicians and female vocalists that inspired many a classic hip-hop track.

Hear it online at: Hip Hop DX

Download "Stand Up (Some Things'll Never Change)"
Download "Who Got It On Lock"