MONSTA ISLAND CZARS

Quite possibly the most raw crew in hip-hop today, the Monsta Island Czars (also known as M.I.C.) are a massive coalition of untouchable emcees and producers from New York. Their members include Jet Jaguar, Rodan, King Geedorah, King Ceasar, Megalon, Kong, Kamackeris, Gigan, and Spiega. Founded by GM Grimm, they caused quite a ruckus with their sizzling posse cut "Who You Think I Am" on MF Doom's classic debut Operation: Doomsday, and followed that up with the dope (and very elusive) "Run The Sphere" 12-inch on Belgium's Brick 9000 label. Like the Wu-Tang Clan, the Czars' flip a lot of cinematic samples but they borrow from Godzilla movies instead of Shaw Brothers kung-fu flicks. Their long-awaited first album, Escape From Monsta Island!, dropped in early 2003; they're also on X-Ray's Monster Mixes series. With their ferocious flows, streetwise but sophisticated lyrics, and absurdly rugged production, it's only a matter of time before the M.I.C. take over the world.