Seattle is best known for Starbucks, rainy weather, grunge and heroin, but that image is becoming as outdated as the flannel button-down tied around your waist. The Emerald City needs a fresh face. Let's see... Undie Hip-Hop Capital of the West Coast?

Yeah, it didn't sound very convincing to us, either. The Portland/Seattle-based Oldominion collective is forging ahead in the world of hip-hop, and there's safety (and support) in numbers... but by themselves, crew members Boom Bap Project probably aren't going to have anyone saying "West Siiiiide!" in reference to the Pacific Northwest. That said, Reprogram is a polished effort, both musically and lyrically. DJ Scene lays down tight, accessible grooves, and MCs Karim and Destro expound intelligently on a variety of subjects, from the current state of hip-hop to the role of Big Brother -- er, the government -- in people's lives. It's enjoyable enough -- your head nods, your feet tap -- but it all feels a bit by-the-numbers, especially with the requisite underground-luminary cameos (Grayskul, Gift of Gab, Rakaa of Dilated Peoples), minor-celebrity producers (Jake One and Vitamin D, who've worked with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and De La Soul, among others), and between-song skits (though the shamelessly schmoozy title character in "The Label Guy" is pretty entertaining). Boom Bap Project are short on innovation and long on solid rhyming and production skills; staunch scene anchors, maybe, but not groundbreakers.

-- Sarah Zachrich