Yo DJ R-Tistic,

Were you listening to the Project Blowed affiliates around this time?
Have you put together a Project Blowed or Goodlife mix?
Some of the best stuff came out around '97/'98. Albums like:

Aceyalone - A Book of Human Language
Abstract Tribe Unique - Mood Pieces
Abstract Tribe Unique - South Central Thynk Taynk
Omid - Beneath the Surface (an incredible Blowed compilation)
Of Mexican Decent - Exitos Y Mas Exitos
The Nonce - The Sight of Things

Plus a bunch of underground albums by groups like CVE and Hip Hop Klan circulating on tape and CDR.

Peace