XLR8R

No rain in Portland, only heat! Lightheaded celebrates Northwest hip-hop creativity on "Illuminate," over 9th Wonder's MPC-tastic beat. Producer Muneshine's no slouch either, livening up "Never Square" and "Blink of an Eye" with strings, tablas, horn sweeps and other punchy samples. Sounding like Pharcyde covering Organized Konfusion, Lightheaded restores hip-hop's legitimacy.