Various Artists

Republic/Universal

How far has rap music come? Take a listen to this tribute CD, wherein eclectic alt-rock and metal acts cover old-school rap: Kottonmouth Kings do Geto Boys’ “My Mind Playin’ Tricks on Me"; Sevendust digs into a crushing metallic reinterpretation of LL Cool J’s “Goin’ Back to Cali.” Rap purists may cringe when Bloodhound Gang rocks out to Run-D.M.C.'s “It’s Tricky"; others may find Driver’s version of “White Lines (Don’t Do It)” an acquired taste. Nevertheless, Take a Bite Outta Rhyme is an adventurous, long-overdue acknowledgement of hip-hop’s influence on rock/rap hybrids. The covers are more than mere remakes; they offer unique interpretations of ‘80s and ‘90s rap classics, from Dynamite Hack—who flips the script on Eazy-E’s hard ghetto anthem "Boys-N-the-Hood" and turns it into a hypnotic acoustic tune—to Dope’s thrashing workout of "New Jack Hustler." Long live the rap/rock revolution.