In the beginning, all hip-hop came from the East Coast: the Bronx, Queensbridge, Uptown, and, a bit later, Philadelphia. When West Coast groups emerged, they sounded just like their Eastern forebears--that is, until N.W.A. came along. Over the years, hip-hop has exploded and different regions have developed their own styles, but the Arsonists debut, As the World Burns still makes for an important landmark: It may be the first album from the East Coast (Brooklyn) that smacks of the West Coast underground sound. That's a good thing, though. The Arsonists combine some primo old-school scratching, a sense of humor, and some serious verbal chops to make a modern hip-hop album that has a real sense of history. In other words, fans of the Jurassic 5, Wu-Tang Clan, Beatnuts, and the Sugarhill Gang will all find plenty to keep their heads nodding on As The World Burns.

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