One of the definitive hip-hop albums of the 90s just turned remastered. Available through the Beasties’ own site they’ve added a second disc with a lot of b-sides, remixes and odd tracks.

The old old: the first album is here in its entirety, enabling the listener to hear how the boys went great following their masterpiece, “Paul’s Boutique”, which the mainstream dissed apart from the single “Hey Ladies”; this follow-up isn’t as sample-laden but just as experimental, and you can really hear how the guys have been playing their instruments and rolling in old records. They go from hip-hop (“So What’cha Want?”) to hardcore (“Time For Livin’”) and instrumental (“Pow”) and it’s really, really great. Playful in the extreme.

The new old: the added album is a treat, giving you stuff like “So What’cha Want?” remixed by DJ Muggs off Cypress Hill (as Soul Assassins) with rap by B-Real, to the ever-classic track “Netty’s Girl” – and you’ve GOT to check out the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKSrTuCAFsc – to the brilliant “The Skills To Pay The Bills (Original Version)” and “Groove Holmes” with Biz Markie on the mic. Radiant stuff.

If you want to get deep into some experimental hip-hop-gone-rock stuff that’s evolved, yet still focused, check this out. They’ve bettered the original.