DJ Premier provides the first track for their triumphant return. Featuring a chopped up flute sample, Alama, Lord Jamar, Sadat X and Grand Puba share mic time, divided up by the usual influx of vocal scratches. The album threatens to become a nostalgic showcase of their lovely chemistry, and contracting several of the best producers around to produce their rougher tunes is definitely a good thing. Lord Finesse weighs in with a hefty four tracks. "The Beat Change" uses a Fab 5 Freddy sample effectively; "Love vs. Hate" is sheer quality production combined with thoughtful lyrics; "Straight Outta Now Rule" is tight, and "U For Me" combines some R&B vocals in the background with an incessant tempo throughout - this is dope. Buckwild provides "Brand Nubian", another butter platter, and the always conscientious Common laces "Maybe One Day". Oh yeah, even Diamond D provides a track: "Foundation", invoking a sing-songy hook, but still providing nice rhymes.

"Shining Star" has a nice guitar riff, reminiscent of their reknowned sound, with a preachy chorus, but the qualities that each member brings to the table are unique to each of them. "I'm Black and I'm Proud" has the obvious James Brown sample that may annoy people, but with the group showing their love and aspirations for their people, away from the gun-toting and killing, the lyrics should be heard. "Sincerely" is a song for black women, apologizing for their ill treatment and displaying their true worth, over a jumble of piano notes.

The first single "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" is a dastardly commercial song. I couldn't feel this, even though they are addressing the situation for a young star making it off the back of one track, and warning them that the industry only really cares when they can make money off them. The problem with it wasn't the message, just the commercial beat. Other songs that befell to this syndrome was "Too Late" and "Let's Dance" featuring Busta Rhymes. While attempting to make people dance (as the title obviously implies), it doesn't have the quality of a Brand Nubian classic like "Slow Down" did and still has for that matter. This crew are known for their 5 percent ideals, their awareness and their messages, but this song was just about straight throw-your-hands-up. This would've been okay, except even in this context it isn't that good, and Busta Rhymes' usual charisma can do nothing to save this one.