Haiku D'Etat

At the time of its release, this album set the standard for Left Coast hip-hop lyricism. It begins with a slinky flute line before Haiku rappers Aceyalone, Mikah 9 and Abstract Rude come in with their phonetically nimble raps. There's an effortless virtuosity on tracks "Non Compos Mentis" and "Los Dangerous." The production is equally smooth, conflating cool jazz with Jamaican dub for a fitting bed of atmospheric beats. It's the boho vibe translated to the Dr. Dre era, and this is among the most satisfying underground albums ever released.