Rob Swift's one of four turntable wizards in the awesome DJ collective, the X-ecutioners. And on his first solo outing, The Ablist, he proves that even on his own, he got da skillz. The record's dramatically more upbeat than the X-ecutioners' 1997 debut, X-pressions, and 100% more vocal- oriented.

The Ablist is, in essence, a rap record. And not just everyday Billboard 200- style rap. No, people, say goodbye to the scary loops of RZA and his infinite gang of Wu-Tang Warriors, the played- out "ugh!" of Master P, and the sad, shambling mockery of sound known as 2Pac's "The Way It Is." This is solid, good- time rap that's more fun to listen to than an old Aristocrat- label blues 78.

The thing about The Ablist is that it's diverse and incredibly fast moving-- the album's already half over by the time you realize you've completely caught the groove. Diverse? Yeah, I mean, the record's got everything. You've got the soulful keyboard funk of "Fusion Beats," the unbelieveably kickin' rap track "Modern Day Music," the swank R&B; of "Turntablist Anthem," the DJ Shadow beats and fucked- up piano scratching of "Something Different," and the brilliantly unforgettable opening groove, "Dope on Plastic." I'm tellin' you, man. The Ablist's gonna breathe new life into your Kid N' Play house parties. (That is, as long as your house party doesn't last longer than 48 minutes.)

-Ryan Schreiber