Pitchfork

We're used to collections of rarities coming from indie rockers and singer/songwriters, but rappers usually get their non-album tracks out there with mixtapes. It's not a bad system. The rappers get to release even the most half-formed of tracks on their laptops, and we get to check them out for cheap, or free.

This makes Def Jam Sessions Vol.01-- a compilation of leftovers previously unreleased in the U.S. from recent albums on the label-- a little odd. You could certainly do worse than the comp's list of contributors: MCs like Nas, Method Man, Redman, and Fabolous alongside r&b singers like Rihanna and Ne-Yo. But what will we do without hearing a DJ "host" scream a catchphrase over each track every 30 seconds or so?

Our issues aside, Island/Def Jam/UMe will release the comp on December 18, exactly one week before your loved ones release a bunch of presents to you.

Def Jam Sessions Vol.01:

01 Nas: "The N..."
02 Redman: "F*k Da Security"
03 Fabolous, Bleu DaVinci: "Chirp Back"
04 Redman: "Let's Go"
05 Method Man: "O.D."
06 Nas: "Where Y'all At"
07 Ne-Yo: "That's What It Does"
08 Bobby Valentino: "Wreck"
09 Fabolous: "I Shine, You Shine"
10 Bobby Valentino: "Let's Go"
11 Ne-Yo: "Spotlight"
12 Rihanna: "Cry"
13 Rihanna: "Haunted"