Released in 2001, It's the L! is the debut full-length from the Los Angeles duo Lexicon (real-life brothers Big Oak and Nick Fury), who had an underground hit with the classic sneaker-fiend anthem "Nikehead." Produced by early indie rap fixtures/sample-centric favorites like Thes One (People Under the Stairs), Cheapshot, and Vin Skully, every track on here resonates with neck-breaking boom-baps and chopped loops galore, while the emcees bring a distinctly playful and funky vibe to the table. Akin to other L.A. groups of the time (think: Ugly Duckling, PUTS, Jurassic 5, and Dilated Peoples), Lexicon takes its sonic cues from the golden era and wisely leave the crime rhymes to the gangsters. With limited guest rappers (Ryu and Takbir from Styles of Beyond appear on "The Official" and "Years and Years," respectively), Oak and Nick hold it down on their own, creating an album that arguably sounds even better 10 years after the fact. Peep "It's the L," "What Do You Take Me For?," and "Charismatic Rapper."