When hip-hop’s greatest duo’s is up for discussion one pair is nearly always left out; Showbiz & AG. The producer and emcee group (later known just as Show & AG), crafted some of the finer music in the early 90’s (Soul Clap EP, Goodfellas) as key members of legendary NYC collective DITC.

Seven years after Andre the Giant released his first solo album, The Dirty Version, AG is back with Get Dirty Radio. This time broadening his production credits to the west leaving an album that alternates between east coast and west coast influenced tracks. One look at the production list (consisting of Madlib, Lord Finesse, J Dilla, Jake One, Oh No, DJ Design and Tommy Tee) you KNOW you’re about to listen to an album with production that is on par with the Diggin In The Crates Crew classics.

Starting the album off with the Madlib produced single, Frozen, AG proves he still has the lyrical talent that originally garnered the legendary status he still holds today. Teaming up with long time collaborator, Lord Finesse, AG goes hard on We Don’t Care. Jumpin from the beginning with lines like; “I empty eagles, if you think you the fifth Beatle/ I’m evil, the left will lean you, but the tech will lean you/ now Joe Budden must of pumped you up/ Niggas will air you up, lay you down, slump you up/ Nah, you can’t beat em, and I’ll die for my freedom/ cover your team in sheets, you would think it’s a Klan’s meeting.” Being a man that’s overcome a significant amount of trials and tribulations; from a murder charge (that since been overruled), industry politics and the tragic death of his close friend Big L, AG bears all on the DJ Design produced Triumph. AG stands tall with the bars like “…and Big L will never be forgotten/ The Big Apple, I eat it rotten, just to keep it poppin.”

There’s no debate that one of the highlights of Get Dirty Radio is Hip Hop Quotable, a track that has AG and Aloe Blacc running laps over one of the last productions credited to the late J. Dilla. Over Dilla’s lovely trademark sound, AG and Aloe Blacc pay homage to some of the genre’s most legendary groups and notable figures. Black Sheep, Jay-Z, Run-DMC, Tupac, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, Public Enemy and Snoop Dogg are just a few of the artists that AG and Aloe quote to form verses showcasing memorable lyrics over the years that we have all heard and loved. Another highlight, that I think is much better listened to for the first time rather then read about, is the re-uniting with Show on The Struggle.

As personal and real as AG gets on the Oh No laced Love, you can’t help but realize the track is so far out of place after the tone and pace that was set from the previous seven songs. Another setback is Gigantic, coincidently produced by Oh No. I can’t front on dude’s production, it’s very left field and VERY dope. It’s just AG doesn’t suit it well, and it stands out like Nicole Richie starring in VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.

Hardcore DITC fans are gonna be disappointed in AG, as the Bronx native relocated to the Bay to do this album. They want the Showiz & AG, they want the Buckwild and Finesse backdrops, they want it all (like it was). In AG’s defense, he stuck to his roots by steadily spittin that Bronx sound. It’s just this time around it’s over the work of some of the west coast’s, best underground producers. After seven years of rest, The Giant has risen again.