A decade ago the first release on the San Francisco based Om Records featured music from the likes of DJ Shadow, The Roots, A Tribe Called Quest and Blackalicious. Now Om has launched a hip-hop devoted offshoot label, called err… Om Hip-Hop. But what the label lacks in name creativity they more than make up in musical quality – and that's where it counts. This compilation shows off the names that could be the next Roots, Tribes, or Shadows to hit the hip-hop scene.

Many of the names here will be new to most listeners, though there are some bigger names to lure in the curious hip-hop fan with cameo contributions from Erykah Badu, Gift of Gag, Lateef, Mistah FAB, Esthero and Rashan Ahmad of the Crown City Rockers. Two of the groups signed to Om Hip-Hop, Strange Fruit Project and the duo Zion I & The Grouch, have also started to make a name for themselves – and they each make two contributions to this release. However the highlights come from artists that are, for now at least, lesser names.

The productions from J-Boogie's Dubtronic Science project provide two of the collection's finest moments, yet they are very different tracks. It takes a look at the song credits to discover that the salsa shuffle of Que Pasa and the deep groove of PPP are from the same producer. Part of the reason for the difference comes from the vocals which give each track its distinct flavour. On Que Pasa Deuce Eclipse narrates the story of Latino immigrants crossing the US border.
"When I'm in the courtroom I'm guilty – Que Pasa?/ Why you tripping? – I build your new casa."

Meanwhile, PPP rolls on low bass vocals powering 'purple perpendicular phonics' in preference to political points. The vocals of P.E.A.C.E. and Raashan Ahmad meld perfectly – the lyrics may have no meaning other than 'these-words-sound-real-good-together' but it rolls by so smoothly that you won't be too perturbed.

Producer E Da Boss impresses – almost managing to overshadow the rest of the record with just one contribution, Gift of Gab and Lateef collaboration Go Left. Roping in two of the stars of another backpacking label Quannam, E Da Boss provides chaotic layers of percussion for the two stars to tear up. Ladybug Mecca, of Digable Planets, also delivers a star turn on Dogg Star with assistance from Kenny Dope and a chorus hook from Raheem DeVaughn. While Strange Fruit Project team with Erykah Badu, to sound far more like a lost track from Chicago's Common rather than anything you'd expect out of their home state of Texas.

Though the label delivers hip-hop with a classic Tribe/Pharcyde/De La Soul bent there are moments that embrace the contemporary sounds of the Bay Area. The opening cut – from Zion I and The Grouch, Hit Em, bounces a hyphy beat and a typically animated guest vocal from Da Yellow Bus Rydah, Mistah FAB.

Inevitably with a collection of so many performers there are some tracks that don't quite live up to the high standard. The contributions from The One are disappointingly murky and uninspired, while Zeph and Azeem's Play the Drum is oddly lacking in the drum department – and heavily reliant on a sampled children's record that grows very old very quickly. Colossus also fail to provide much spark, but that could be said of any group willing to be described as an 'acid jazz juggernaut'.