The Brooklyn/Queens production house known as Greystone Productions has amassed a 13-track debut compilation featuring 13 underground NYC emcees. The purpose of the compilation is to "unleash a relentless onslaught of killa beats on to the hip-hop community. Which they believe will only aid in awakening the creativity and the raw passion that dwells within their artists."

The Beauty of the Beast does in fact deliver sonically tight production. It has a definite hard edge that carries over onto thuggish songs like 'Care Less' and 'The Bang Out,' and displays diversity on the more club-oriented 'N.Y.C.' and 'Come on Ride.' As for the emcees, both Peshi and Wolf Da Crook are pleasant lyrical surprises.

Wolf Da Crook capitalizes on perfect catalytic Greystone production on the hard Mobb Deep'ish 'The Bang Out' and club-oriented 'Come On Ride.' Peshi's 'Peshis Killn It' was impressive as it had me reminiscing on one of my favorite tracks: Mel-man's 'Shittin on the World.' As a nice bonus, the French stylings of P.man on 'Freaky' make for a nice contrast.

However, the majority of the other emcees were plagued with an indistinctive gangsta tongue centered on the all-too-popular gun slinging, drugs and thugging. Evidence includes 'Get Mines,' which features the album's catchiest chorus, but Ghetto Prince fails to deliver lyrically. Top Dollar also struggles to rap about much else on 'Care Less.'

The Beauty of the Beast is a well-produced and enjoyable album. As long as the featured artists can learn to write their lyrics to be as finely tuned as Greystone's beats, then watch for them to start making some ripples. Greystone Productions have definitely achieved their goal of aiding themselves and their featured artists on the road to success.

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