A Brick City rapper closely affiliated with The Artifacts, Beneficence has been around since the mid-'90s but remains relatively unknown despite some high-caliber collaborations and great solo material. Released via Ill Adrenaline, Concrete Soul is his fifth solo album. It plays like a time warp back to the golden era, complete with scratch-laden throwback beats from period producers like Buckwild, K-Def, and Da Beatminerz. Guest appearances come from "I remember that dude!" types Chubb Rock, Herb McGruff, Lord Tariq, Grap Luva, and Finsta, plus still-in-the-game vets Billy Danze (of M.O.P.), El Da Sensei, and AG. Delightfully retro without being corny or crying about the current state of the game, this is just good real-deal rap music, plain and simple. There's really not a wack track here, but "Rulez to the Game (Remix)," "Way We Rockin'," and "H.E.Y! (Hood Early Years)" are especially fresh.