How many Asian people do you know that think that hip-hop and rap music started with 2Pac and finished with 2Pac with a little squeeze of 50 Cent thrown in near the end? Loads I reckon, but that's not the case. New York in the mid nineties was brimming with talent from Nas, Wu Tang Clan, Mobb Deep and of course Biggie Smalls and in their debut album, production duo Specialist & Tru Skool give us a real NYC kick up the ass - desi style!!

First of all, I'll give you a quick intro to who Specialist & Tru Skool are: The Specialist has been around for a few years, appearing on many albums and DJ'ing around the circuit. This is by no means his debut album neither. His solo album was one of the most underated album back in the day entitled 'Higher Intellignece', and he also co-produced the Ballly Rai album '2 Lethal Desi'.Tru-Skool is the main desi influence in the duo; he plays all the Indian instruments to give the duo that extra desi edge. This release is the first on the new Easy Life Records label.

The main themes of 'Word Is Born' are summed up on the cover, which has images of traditional Indian instruments and some number signifying the digital age and how the two have been put together. It's not often that an Asian cover actually has some meaning and connotations behind it; it's unfortunate that cars and cheesy grins sell records.

The album kicks off with 'Sanehvaal Chounk', the main dance floor filler of the disc. Kaka Bhainivaala, the guy who sang Tigerstyle's 'Nachna Onda Nei', lays down an absolutely faultless vocal, sounding remarkably like Lembher over a cleverly produced track combining the old skool hip hop feel with some profound desi instruments.

The second track is 'Saibaa Dha Khath', the first of two old Kuldip Manak tunes emulated by Kulvinder Singh Johal. More of a desi flavour than the opening track, the keys underneath sounds brilliant as a cushion for what are quite raw vocals from Johal. When the beat is brought back at the end of the track you appreciate how the production has been laid down to great effect.

We're then blessed with one of my favourite singers on track three. The superb Ranjit Mani puts down a sick vocal over a Nas sample for 'Nashia Tho Dhoor', which makes possibly the best tune of the album. The Specialist puts down some cool scratching which complete the New York hip-hop sound and the desi work over the sample give this a wicked feel.

Now when you hear Labh Janjua's name you think of club classics like 'Kala Kala Munda', 'Ishq Nagni' and of course 'Mundian Tho Bach Ke', but when you listen to 'Bhindi Koka' you see a totally new aspect to Janjua. The man is singing over what is some kind of ballad, a bit like Everlast's stuff, and he sounds totally in at home. Dave Shepherd's guitar sound is great and the Indian flutes over it are pure harmony. Another rated track.

Labh Janjua stays on the line for track five, a proper 'nachdey' track called 'Basakhi Vaaleh Meleh'. Its got desi written all over it but the b-line has actually been taken from ODB's classic 'Got Your Money', and the effect is subtle enough not to be noticed. The production is crisper than Walkers and Janjua is on fire once more.

The desi vibe remains but is more chilled for track six, 'Mooho Boldhi'. This is the only track on the album I would call average, it's a desi joint and not much more, dholki, tabla and tumbi on the go but there's not much else to it.

The second Manak cover is number seven, which has a proper thug beat from NYC, and is one of my favourites on the album. The melodies are brilliant and Specialist scratches in some Mobb Deep vocal samples to perfect effect and you never thought desi singers could sound so Godfather. It's Kulvinder Singh Johal's best efforts on the album for me.

The hip-hop beats stay in touch for track eight, 'Thoka' with Labh Janjua returning on vocals. The strings are brilliant and lean well against a strong dholki and the beat brings the best out of Mr Janjua. Nearly at the end of the album and I've liked all but one track, this must be special.

As track nine fades in you can tell its top tune from the chords and Janjua is on fire again. 'Raah Ni Labhney' is a simple yet groovy desi piece which you just wouldn't change anything.

The album unfortunately finishes with 'Maama Dhe Poth'. I say unfortunately because I didn't want it to end. The track opens with a collection of mixed in vocal intros from some known NYC hip-hop tracks, I could pick out Mobb Deep's 'Give Up The Goods' amongst others and tells you where the 'Word' was born from. The musical intro is great, slow and a sharp crescendo through Kulvinder Singh Johal's vocal into one of the best laid back desi tracks.' The guitar is a bit like Lou Reed's 'Walk On The Wildside' and the chorus is powerful. It's another big tune.

Now, we were chatting about this album in the DT4U office and said that most top albums have a killer track, another three or four decent ones and a few fillers. 'Word Is Born' doesn't have that killer track; the whole of the album is a killer! With some top notch vocal performances and some sick production, 'Word Is Born' gets a massive 8.7 out of 10 as I think its groundbreaking, eclectic and shows that albums are made up of ten tracks and not one massive tune to carry it. Go out and buy it, it's wicked!!