The Source Presents Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 8 [Audio CD] Various Artists

Wondering what your brothers and sisters in the hip-hop nation are doing across the country? Well, go straight to the source, The Source magazine, that is, as they present Hip Hop Hits, Vol. 8 a cross-country rap sampler for your listening pleasure.

Atlanta's Youngbloodz and their "Damn" (from the album Drankin' Patnaz) start off the collection with a hard rhyme. Soul brothers, Ying Yang Twins, featuring Li'l Jon & the Eastside Boyz deliver their ultra dance floor track, "Salt Shaker," taken from their album, Me & My Brother. T.I., another Atlanta man, bills his rhyme style as "laid back hustler with a Southern drawl." We couldn't have said it better and the slow groove of "Be Easy" fits the description just right.

Hip-hop high priest Wyclef lays down his loose rhyme and rhythms on "The Industry," his plea to stop the violence from his acclaimed album, The Preacher's Son. The slick Chingy puts it "Right Thurr." It's a slice of female appreciatin' rap from his album, Jackpot.

"Can't Stop, Won't Stop" by Philly's Young Gunz has the sound of old school running through a thoroughly modern and spare, street-beat track. Freestyler Cassidy, another Philly man, features R. Kelly on the super-hit, "Hotel."

Westside Connection with Nate Dogg turn in the lowdown and dirty "Gangsta Nation," in tribute to the West Coast gangsta sound, while the furious Gang Starr also come around to drop some heavy gangsta beats on "Skills." Meanwhile, big gun Ja Rule weighs in with the simple "Clap Back."

Kanye West's melodic "Through the Wire" sounds like a cool breeze following the hardcore raps that precede it and yet, it's a serious story of life on the street. J-Kwon's "Tipsy" is all heavy percussion and scratching in the tradition of his catalog of partying songs. "Into You" is one of the collection's few slow jams, with Fabolous at the mic and Tamia chiming in with a sexy vocal.

Scarface, from Houston, is just trying to keep it real with his Texas ghetto raps as he gets serious with "Recognize." The Untouchables, featuring Benzino, represent Boston with "Relationships (With Me and My Gun)," the collection's rock hard bonus track.

The sounds and makers of state-to-state hip-hop are alive and well, according to the 16 tracks on this crucial collection -- and you'd better believe it's for real. When it comes to hip-hop, no one knows it better than The Source.

By Daisy Duarte