Various Artists: Peanut Butter Wolf Presents 2K8: B-Ball Zombie War

It's seldom a good idea to buy an album on the basis of the title alone—unless it includes the phrase B-Ball Zombie War. And it certainly helps when the label behind the madness is Stones Throw, and the lineup includes Madlib, J Dilla, Q-Tip, Talib Kweli, and MF Doom. Then copping said disc is a no-brainer. (Mmmm, brains.) As befits an album with "zombie" in the title, War's dopest cuts find beloved cult producer J Dilla scoring from beyond the grave. "Lightworking" transforms Dilla's instrumental "Lightworks" into a beat for Q-Tip and Talib Kweli, while another dynamic duo, MF Doom and Guilty Simpson, tag-teams a deliciously Dilla-fied piano on "Mash's Revenge." The instrumental-heavy second half is less essential, but Dilla's always-welcome presence and Stones Throw's trademark funky eclecticism help makes this into one hip undead musical happening.