Owing a great deal to the Native Tongues, the Pharcyde, and Digable Planets, the organic grooves of the Black Eyed Peas (formerly known as Atban Klann) do a brand of hip hop that won't get coverage on the evening news, make grooves that don't get cited by politicians or pundits. The debut album from this California based trio, Behind the Front, is a tasty pot o' sonic gumbo that has something for any listener of hip hop - the teenaged teenybopper bumpin' Mase will enjoy this as much as the thirty year old who still grooves "Bonita Applebaum" on a weekly basis.

There's a sense of humor and enjoyment in these songs, which range from the smooth salsero grooves of "Karma" to the more intricate conscious thoughts of "Fallin' Up" to the downright shake-yo-pants sound of "Clap Your Hands" or "Joints & Jam" with the audacity to riff from "Grease." There is a sly genius in even the use of samples that acknowledges the current trends in beatmining without ever lowering to a commercial level.

This is a complete album from start to finish, the way most jams were in the "good ol' days." With lyrics that are heavy with meaning and clever if not complex, humming basslines over moving keys and drums, and some of the best done skits since De La ("El Nino, can you run away with all the cheddar?" the faux game show host Mitch asks, and after getting the answer, El Nino responded, "I came to bring the rain, pendejo!"). This is an example of the West Coast hip hop that many anti-gangstas are always shouting about as Ice Cube steps out of his helicopter to a throng of reporters.

Highlights are the bassline on "Clap Your Hands," the smoothness of "Duet" and "The Way You Make Me Feel," and the smooth pseudo-Latin boogie of "Karma." That's barely fair - every song is great, but some stand out so much that they need special mention. In short, this album is a stellar performance if not a hip hop classic.

The only question is, "Can they do it again?" Let's hope so!