By the time his 2008 solo debut "The Preface" was released, eLZhi was already recognized as one of hip-hop's most gifted lyricists. The Detroit emcee was still a member of Slum Village at the time, having replaced hip-hop icon J Dilla in the legendary group earlier that decade. "The Preface" showcases eLZhi's undeniable talent and impressive creative flair, foreshadowing the exciting solo career that would follow. With a young Black Milk supplying pounding, drum-heavy production on 13 of the album's 16 tracks, eLZhi's dense verses electrify the mic, announcing the arrival of a truly special artist. Whether riffing on color-themed wordplay, playing a lyrical game of "fill in the blank", taking listeners on a dream logic adventure, telling his personal story, or simply showing off his scorching rhyme skills, eLZhi's flawless flows animate the highly conceptual collection. A thoroughly Detroit affair, "The Preface" features appearances by Motown rap gods like Royce Da 5'9", Danny Brown, Guilty Simpson, Phat Kat, T3 of Slum Village, and more. After years of scarcity, the album is finally receiving a proper reissue on CD and vinyl.