Three talented Detroit MCs, Jay Dee, Baatin and T3 — a.k.a. Slum Village — finally issue Fantastic, Vol. 2, after bootlegs have been popping up in record stores for the past couple of years. Underground aficionados won't be disappointed with the bona fide release.

Jay Dee has produced songs on Q-Tip's Amplified and Common's Like Water for Chocolate, and the combination of Jay Dee's smoked-out, stripped-down production and the Slum Village MCs' laid-back lyrical stylings create the perfect mellow vibe on Fantastic. Their sense of humor compliments their sharp rhymes, with hilarious skits appearing throughout the album. Guest appearances by Q-Tip, D'Angelo, Busta Rhymes, Kurupt and Pete Rock make for a diverse mix of characters.

"I Don't Know," a comical ode to romantic mishaps, uses James Brown vocal samples to create a virtual duet between the MCs and the Godfather of Soul. "Hold Tight" (RealAudio excerpt) features the intelligent Q-Tip we know and love rapping about shady industry folks and sounding quite different from his current "Vivrant" mainstream mode.

"2U4U" is a smart bump-and-grind tune, with the MCs serenading their object of affection to a slow, sexy beat. On "Tell Me" (RealAudio excerpt), D'Angelo's buttery smooth singing flawlessly connects with Slum Village's slow flow. Kurupt brings the Dogg Pound sound to "Forth and Back" (RealAudio excerpt) and Pete Rock also appears in fine form on "Once Upon a Time" (RealAudio excerpt). "Players" (RealAudio excerpt), one of the tightest tracks on the album, pokes fun at the wannabes in the rap game: "I never would play myself out like that/ But, mmm, I guess that's where you're at."

Although a fairly light-hearted album, Fantastic, Vol. 2 could be remembered as one of the classics of 2000. With the help of some high-profile guests, Slum Village's smooth, underground sound is infectious enough for mainstream ears.