The often overlooked political MC/producer Paris produced this all-star mixtape, which boasts aggressively activist rhymes by Dead Prez, Public Enemy (together on one song, "Can't Hold Us Back"), MC Ren, the Coup, and Everlast. HARD TRUTH is relentlessly gripping, going for the crisp, West Coast-cum-Bomb Squad-influenced beats Paris grew up on. The aforementioned "Back" is the heavyweight champ of this collection, but T-K.A.S.H. lays down three spotlight-stealing cameos as well. SOLDIERS is unmistakably Paris's creation however, and warrants widespread notice.