Xzibit is responsible for bringing together this formidable grouping of rugged-voiced West Coast MCs (Phil da Agony, Mitchy Slick, and Krondon) but he bowed out before the crew dropped their debut album, DEEP HEARTED. And though X-to-the-Z is largely absent (he appears on one joint), DEEP HEARTED benefits from an impressive barrage of guest appearances from such fearsome lyricists as Planet Asia, Ras Kass, Chamillionaire, Black Thought, Dilated Peoples, Tha Liks, Talib Kweli, and Juvenile. On the production side, DEEP HEARTED is a brooding, cinematic listen with a scattering of neo-soul/R&B-influenced tracks thrown in. Beats come courtesy of Evidence, DJ Khalil, Da Riffs, J Thrill, Thayod Ausar, Blaqtoven, DJ Babu, and Madlib.