Recorded in Jay Dee's (Dilla after 01') home studio in 97, and stayed bootleg until 05, Fan-Tas-Tic vol. 1 is a true underground classic that showed what Detroit was about and put Slum Village on the map. It's their first effort that lead to a record deal with A&M and then GoodVibe Recorings. In its almost 9 years of underground hype, it constantly praised and fetch prices upward of $50. Then in 05' it was officially released with additional tracks.

While its not laced with outstanding lyrics or meaning, it does more then compensate for it with its production quality. The whole cd, with runs 22 tracks, has a solid 'real album feel' and vibes throughout, courtesy of J. Half of the tracks run under two minutes in length, its non the less refreshing to hear. In fact the shorter tracks just contribute to the uniqueness and somewhat of a demo like quality which is harder and harder to find these days.
Now if you, see this n---- give this n---- respectThat's if you don't suck my dick or sign my checkNow if that's some G s---, I do this in G s---Frequent, the S clip slick s--- that we bentyo' ass, tryin to figure how much cash I spenton that bitch; if it's p---- boy I don't pay rentYou masters cashed the last and all you hold is lintWhat is it, yo' ass want a blast my manSpeakin of that blast s---, I justgot up ahold of somethin I ain't even pull yetNow that's word, see on a whole 'nother somethinNext time a n---- ain't no frontinYou know that if you front it ain't no futureI won't, hesitate to shoot ya, with rhymesI got a lot of them, what you touch, was my lint justgive me respect and you can press rewindThat's if you wanna, do thatThat's if you gonna, do that, who thatIt's the S y'all, 3 the hard way

Like this y'all, this y'all -Give This N----, Jay Dee

On the track, "Give This N----", J demands respect, much deserved as it may. The track last one minute and four seconds. A muffled sample much reminiscent of Zapp & Roger's, "I Want To Be Your Man" brings the track in, then the beat drops with Jay's voice and the sample is still looped in the back throughout the whole song at the perfect volume. This track embodies Fan-Tas-Tic vol. 1 and hip-hop.

The track, "Forth & Back (Rock Music)", may just be catchiest track as well as one of the most lyrical. "Just rock to the rythm, forth and backDon't make no senseYou ain't gotta grab the microphone to pay your rentIt's too many, so-called MC's rappinPut your s--- down, you can't make it happenContinue, to do what you doSo my crew can bring out the cool in you and you"

The album also contains the tracks; fantastic, fantastic 2, 3 and 4, where Slum Village reminds you what to call the music you hear and set their work apart further. Then the track "Beej N Dem" is the most propionate example of the recording and mixing technique on the album. All the vocals dont follow the 'standard' compression of todays music, 4:1 and the bass tones have a certain 'muddiness' to them that sits perfect in the mix that they have created

The music of Fan-Tas-Tic Vol.1 still sets the mood today, with its vibe, its hard to do anything but 'Rock the rhythm, forth and back"

-review on hiphopremix.com