Rhymefest is a Chi-town hero and a legend of the underground battle circuit, yet he remains something less than a household name. But Rhymefest seems comfortable with his underdog status and has taken advantage of his low-key profile to construct an utterly unique Hip-Hop persona: The Grease Stained Rap Everyman, the unpretentious lyrical workhorse whose broad shoulders support Hip-Hop’s flashy edifice. Of course there is a good amount of play-acting going on here. Rhymefest’s accomplishments — besting Eminem in a freestyle battle in 1997 and co-writing Kanye West’s Grammy winning “Jesus Walks” — are anything but ordinary, and here he delivers one of the best Hip-Hop releases of 2006. Having Kanye at your back certainly has its advantages, and it comes as no surprise that Blue Collar boasts an impressive production roster, with everyone from Just Blaze to Mark Ronson to Kanye himself making winning contributions. Ultimately however, it is Rhymefest’s rapid-fire delivery and his refreshingly inventive persona that make Blue Collar an essential listen.