The sequel to Rhino's terrifically entertaining Millennium Hip-Hop Party compilation, New Millennium Hip-Hop Party features more of rap's best crossover pop hits, dipping a little later into the mid-'90s than its predecessor (cuts from Coolio, the Notorious B.I.G., and the Wu-Tang Clan, which demonstrate the infiltration of gangsta themes into a greater variety of mainstream hip-hop). But for the most part, the collection still covers pop-rap's late-'80s/early-'90s heyday, when some of the most creative sounds in hip-hop were also among its most playful and accessible. There are cuts from some of the first alternative rappers (De La Soul's "Me Myself & I," A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario," Arrested Development's "People Everyday"), plus flat-out great singles like Naughty by Nature's "O.P.P.," Run-D.M.C.'s "You Be Illin'," DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince's "Summertime," Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock's "Joy and Pain," Mellow Man Ace's "Mentirosa," Tone Loc's "Wild Thing," Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five's "The Message," and even more. Like the first installment, New Millennium Hip-Hop Party is an excellent way to collect some of the most compulsively listenable hip-hop singles yet recorded. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide